Karen

Saw Moo Wah lives in Naung Bo village. His village is one of 11 that are situated along the Sittang River in Pegu Division in the southern central part of Burma. The local economy is based around its natural resources and agriculture. The major crop in Pegu Division is rice which uses about two thirds of the available agricultural land.…

The Phan Foundation has officially announced their acceptance of nominees for the 4th year of Padoh Mahn Sha Young Leader Award until the cut-off on January 31, 2012. The Padoh Mahn Sha Young Leader Award is given annually to Karen community workers who work in health, education, social or cultural areas. According to the Foundation criteria, nominees should be Karen…

The Karen people from Tenasserim Division in southern Burma are challenging new government restrictions on celebrating Karen New Year in the Division capital, Tavoy. A Karen elder in Tavoy, who does not want to be named, told Karen News that Tenasserim’s Government Chief Minister, former Lt. Gen. Khin Zaw, has forbidden large celebrations of Karen New Year. The Karen elders…

The Karen National Union denied they have entered into a ceasefire with the Burma government. In an official statement on the ‘Peace Talks’, dated 24th November, the KNU said. “Recent media reports that the Karen National Union (KNU) had agreed to a ceasefire with the Burmese regime, along with several other ethnic organizations, was false. The KNU team of three…

Karen villagers alleged Thai company workers of exploiting and marrying local women while they are employed in construction work in southern Burma. A village elder said villagers are outraged at recent false marriages involving three Karen women in Kaw Htee Lor (Tha Byu Chaung) village, east of Tavoy. Villagers say the three women were dumped by the Italian-Thai Development Company…

The ethnic people of Burma crave peace. In the recent years they have voiced their support for a genuine political dialogue that will deliver long lasting peace for their people. Ethnic people working for a wide variety of community groups and canvassed by Karen News said the Burma government has ignored calls by ethnic people for unified peace talks with…

Burma’s ruling party is sending its members to Karen non-ceasefire areas in the southern part of the country bearing peace offers. The most recent case involved a member of parliament from the ruling Union Solidarity and Development Party, Saw Ha Bee, an ethnic Karen, who held a meeting with local officials, religious leaders and community leaders in Pa Wat Hta…

The Pa-an based Plone-Swor Democratic Party of Karen State is to launch a monthly journal in the coming Karen New Year. The magazine will cover politics, Karen issues and international news. The new magazine is set to challenge the government’s claims that it is serious about creating media free environment. According to the PSDP’s youth chairman, S’Be Kyin Oo, a…

A Karen political party, Plao-Swaw Democratic Party (PSDP) urged the European Union to help civilians in Papun, Kyain Seikygi and southern Kawkariek Township, Karen state. The request comes after Ms Kristalina Georgieva, the EU Commissioner for International Cooperation, Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Response, officially visited Burma in early September and promised 22 euro million in aid for civilians living in…

A severe influenza outbreak among school children in Si Poe Khee village, Pai Kyone Township last week has so far infected more than 40 children. Saw Mu Ka Paw, the Si Poe Khee school’s head master said many children were unable to attend school and people are worried the influenza will infect adults. “We don’t have any clinic in our…