KNU

This years Karen National Day was widely celebrated by villagers, soldiers, refugees and displaced people throughout Karen areas in Burma. A large crowd attended the 65th Anniversary of the Karen National Day held in Karen National Union (KNU) 7th Brigade, Karen State on February 11. Speaking to Karen News, Naw Eh Moe, who said she was pleased to be able…

KNU General Secretary, Padoh Kwe Htoo, in an exclusive interview with Karen News stressed that the KNU remains committed to peace, but warns Burma’s government to enact further reforms. “The KNU’s policy is unchanged, despite ceasefire negotiations with the Burma Army. Unity is important for our future struggle. Right now is a critically important time for our people.” He said…

The Kachin Independence Organization (KIO) met with representatives of the Burma government’s peace committee on the China Burma border early this week. The government’s Union Peace Making Committee held preliminary ‘peace talks’ with the KIO in Ruili, Yunnan Province, China on Monday. The Karen National Union’s chairman General Saw Mutu Say Poe and General-Secretary Pado Saw Kwe Htoo Win were…

January 12 not only marked Karen New Year, but also the first anniversary of the Karen National Union’s (KNU) ceasefire with the Burmese Government. That makes it the longest running truce in the six decades old struggle. This is a cause for optimism. Yet a ceasefire is not an end in itself, peace requires a sustainable and equitable settlement. It…

This year is the 64th anniversary of the Karen Revolution Day and for the first time, members of the Burma government’s army and militia attended the ceremony. A number of Karen Revolution Day ceremonies were held at various statewide locations. As many as 50 Border Guard Force (BGF) militia attended a ceremony at the Karen National Union, Brigade 7, Hlaingbwe…

Government ministers, police officers, the government’s military and representatives of all of the state’s armed groups met and discussed the setting up of economic zones in Myawaddy, refugees repatriation and the country’s legislation system. Colonel Aung Lwin, the Karen State, Border Security Affairs Minister, met with government department officers, the police and representatives of the State’s various armed groups at…

Hundreds of people attended a ceremony to mark the 64th anniversary of the Karen revolution and to commemorate its fallen heroes. Singing, dancing and a soldiers parade at the KNLA’s 7th Brigade marked the ceremony, which saw as many as 700 attending, including leaders from the KNU, KNLA, community based organisation groups and men wearing Burma Army insignia. Hundreds of…

KNU President, General Mutu Say Poe, has called for continued ethnic Karen unity while paying respects to the Karen people in a speech marking the 64th anniversary of Karen Revolutionary Resistance Day. In the speech, General Mutu Say Poe acknowledged the sacrifice of the Karen people in their decades-long conflict with Burma’s military. “In the period of 64 years of…

Derek Mitchell, the US Ambassador to Burma met with key Karen National Union members in Pa-an (Hpa-an) earlier this month. KNU officials said a number of issues were discussed with Ambassador Mitchell, including, the current political climate, the process of the KNU and government ceasefires with ethnic armed groups and the ethnic alliances. The KNU general secretary, Padoh Saw Kweh…

Tensions are running high after a Burma Army officer beat up Karen National Union member and detained him in Southern Burma. The incidence happened at a checkpoint located near Ka Saw Wah village in Tenasserim Division that is in the Karen National Union’s Brigade 4. A Burma Army operation commander beat up and detained the KNU member, Saw Ah Pih…