KNLA

Fighting between the Karen National Liberation Army and the government’s militia, the Border Guard Force (BGF) erupted in the Weigyi area of Papun Township, Karen State last week. Soldiers from KNLA Battalion 102 Company under the command of Lieutenant Saw Eh Ka Mwe fought with BGF troops led by Lieutenant AB Lwin from Battalion 1014. The KNLA had 20 soldiers…

A Burma Army supply truck was hit by a mine on Tuesday evening in Tantabin Township, Toungoo District, eyewitnesses said the explosion left two injured and two dead. The blown-up truck was from the 4th Light Infantry Battalion (LIB) under the command of Deputy Colonel Ye Thwin Aung under the 66th Division. The accident happened as a convoy of 20…

Fighting broke out between the government’s Border Guard Force militia and the Karen National Liberation Army close to Mae La Hta village in Papun Township, Karen State. The conflict erupted last week wounding two in the conflict – a KNLA soldier and a civilian. KNLA sources said militia from Border Guard Force battalion 1014 based at Mae Seik village attacked…

Brigadier General Saw Jonny, commander of the Karen National Union (KNU) Brigade 7 has been elected as the commander-in-chief of the Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA). The KNLA is the armed wing of the KNU. Brig-Gen Saw Baw Kyaw Heh the commander of the KNLA Brigade 5 has been elected as the vice-chief-of-staff (VCS), the second most powerful position in…

The spokesperson of an Italian non-government organization, Popolis, which has been working in Karen State since 2001, said it would only operate in areas under the control of the Karen National Union. In a statement to Karen News, Popili’s spokesperson (who requested that their name not be used) said. “We have been worried about what has been happening in Karen…

Soldiers from the Karen National Liberation Army’s 1st Brigade were beaten in a friendly football match against a celebrity team, Actor Star FC, from the Myanmar Motion Picture Organization at Bilin on Thursday 1st November. The game was played to help raise funds for development in Bilin Town, Mon State, The KNLA team was beaten 2-0 win by the Actor…

The Karen National Union is to hold a ‘special emergency’ meeting tomorrow, Thursday 25th October, to solve differences between two factions that have recently emerged that threatened to divide the KNU and de-rail ‘peace talks’ with the government. In an effort to reach an agreement between the two factions, KNU leaders, including both sides, met for two days earlier this…

An attempt to reunify a recent division in the Karen National Union has made marked progress this week when both sides agreed to talk. Karen people and community-based-organizations around the world were shocked to read in the media that three KNU leaders had breached the political organizations ‘peace-talks’ protocols and were negotiating independently with the Burma government. Tension among the…

The Karen National Union Executive Committee has dismissed the head of its army, and two other KNU leaders for breaching its ‘peace-talk’ protocols. The three dissenting leaders are General Mutu Say Poe, the Karen National Liberation Army’s General-Officer-in-Command, Padoh Saw David Taw, Chief of the Justice Department and Padoh Saw Roger Khin, Chief of Health and Welfare Department. The three-sacked…

In defiance of Karen National Union policy, Karen National Liberation Army chief General Mutu Say Po opened a temporary central level liaison office in Pa-an Town, Karen State on Saturday, September 29. An attendee at the opening ceremony told Karen News that around 200 people attended turned up as well as representatives from the Burma government. Minister Aung Min, representing…