Karen

On her sixth tour of Myanmar, UN human rights expert Yanghee Lee made a stop to meet with Karen social organizations in Hpa-an township, Kayin (Karen) State on July 16. “We discussed issues related to education, health, traditions and culture, women’s rights and rule of law. I discussed the situation of literature and culture. We were only submitting information about…

The Karen Women’s Empowerment Group (KWEG) went on its first excursion to the Pyidaungsu Hluttaw in Naypyidaw on June 20. A total of 47 village leaders from Hpa-an, Kawkareik, Kyain Seik Gyi and Hlaingbwe Townships in Karen State studied the activities carried out by the Pyidaungsu Hluttaw and discussed regional development issues. Head of the KWEG’s implementation plan for civilian…

An EU Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade (FLEGT) working committee has been established in Karen State. This came after a FLEGT Voluntary Partnership Agreement meeting with various civil society organizations (CSOs) in the state’s capital Hpa-an on June 17 and 18. CSO representative from the interim working committee Ko Zaw Thura said that “the aim is to now [raise…

Villagers along the Kawkareik – Aindu road which is now being upgraded to Asia Highway funded by the Asia Development Bank said that they want transparency and more understandable information on the project. The Village Development Committee formed with representatives from the 24 villages affected by the project made the statement during a meeting on 15 June, 2017. The meeting…

The Myaing Gyi Ngu shelter for displaced families is in urgent need of roof repairs before the monsoon season fully kicks in, officials said. The Karen State temporary shelter began housing thousands of people last September when fighting erupted between a splinter faction of the Democratic Karen Buddhist Army (DKBA), the Tatmadaw and a border militia. Donations to the camp…

On April 7, the highly anticipated 16th KNU Congress came to an end with the election of a new leadership to drive the organization for the next four years. Unlike many past congresses, the 16th KNU Congress attracted enormous interest from Burma watchers and from the Karen community around the world because many believed that the outcome would have a…

In an exclusive interview with Karen News, Padoh Naw Zipporah Sein, despite losing her position as vice-chairperson in the Karen National Union’s 16th Congress recent election, urged the new leaders to work for a genuine peace and to be united with the country’s ethnic nationalities. The KNU 16th congress have elected new a chairperson, vice-chairperson, secretary, joint secretary 1 and…

The Karen National Union elections for its four-year term leadership ended on April 8, 2017 after the top five positions were voted in. Chairperson, General Mutu Sae Po was re-elected to serve in the position for another four years, while Naw Zipporah Sein lost her position as vice-chair in an early round of the election vote. Ms Sein, the KNU’s…

The Karen National Union (KNU) has approved a roadmap roughly outlining its future activities over the next four years. The ethnic armed organization is currently convening its 16th congress, where election of its new leadership body is underway. Padoh Saw Thaw Thi Bwe, chair of the KNU Congress Committee, said the 20-point agenda for 2017-2021 was approved on April 4…

The current 16th Karen National Union (KNU) Congress entered its final stage from the first week of April, 2017. Election of new leadership that will take office for the next four years start tomorrow, on April 6. During the previous weeks, representatives debated several issues before an agreement and understanding could be reached. These issues include the Burma Army’s militarization…