KCSN reports on Karenni State’s situation
Recently, the Karenni Civil Society Network (KCSN) published an important report providing a number of updates on the current issues within Karenni State.
The report titled “Where is genuine peace” focused on the issues of military expansion, natural resource extraction and land confiscation within Karenni State. These were in addition to the main focus of the report, the model village project in Shadaw Township, Karenni State.
This ‘model village’ project has the aim of providing support for 10 villages in Shadaw Township near the Salween River. A spokesperson, Juha Peltonen, for Finland’s Development Minister Sirpa Paatero stated ““[T]he project has not encouraged IDPs to return. The project was initiated in support of the needs of IDPs who had already spontaneously returned.” KCSN asserts this project is being used to encourage refugees and IDPs to return prematurely.
Organisations including K.N.P.P have criticized the project. One K.N.P.P leader has been quoted as saying ‘“I would like to tell INGOs that helping the villagers is good....
Deni’s story
Q: Can you tell me a little bit about your history?
A: My parents come from Burma but I was born in Thailand. I was born in HuayPhuKhet village, Thailand in 1995. I am Kayan Padaung. I studied in my village until grade 6. When I reached grade six, I moved to study in Karenni Refugee Camp 1. I have been there until now. After I finished grade 10, I studied at SDC School. Even though, I was born in Thailand I do not have a Thai passport. I can only travel within Mae Hong Son province.
Q: What do you want to do in the future?
A: In the future, I want to help my people. I will tell them about what I have learnt at SDC School and share my knowledge in my community as much as I know. I want my community to know about the subjects I have studied. I want them to know about the environment and rule...
SDC Free and Fair election campaign
During the campaign, our trainers traveled to five different villages to share information and distribute leaflets to the wider pubic about free and fair elections and democratic processes.
The purpose of this campaign was to raise awareness within Karenni State of what a free and fair election is and how to participate. This is in anticipation of the election scheduled for the end of 2015 in Burma.
Our trainers traveled to 5 villages in 5 different districts. In each village, they organised a plan in advance with the village head. They then ran a training to explain about free and fair elections. The trainings were very important because many people in Karenni State are illiterate so they are unable to read our brochures.
The trainings were held between 9 and 12 on five different mornings. Each one of the trainings had between 50 and 80 participants. During the trainings our team spoke about many different topics. They introduced democracy and spoke about; electing...
IDP rehabilitation in Karenni State
By John Paul for Kantarawaddy Times. November 2014.
Translated and edited by SDC students, staff and volunteers.
In Karenni State, the government and KNPP have been implementing a project to establish a model village for rehabilitation of some Internally Displaced People. (IDPs).
Khu Plu Reh, a coordinator of the KNPP liaison office in Loikaw said “ this program should have been finished in September 2013 but it has not yet been implemented. The project is still trying to be carried out due to difficulties including transportation.” The implementation of this project is a result of discussions between the ceasefire groups and the central government in November 2013. It is one of seven points of the ceasefire agreements. This project will be implemented on the eastern bank of the Salween, at Mae La Yu Chaw Soe, in Shadaw Township, Karenni State.
“The future of this model village is uncertain because it depends on the ceasefire process. The Burmese government doesn’t yet have a plan to...
A short history of conflict in Karenni State
The ethnic groups that comprise Karenni State have suffered from a long history of conflict. The ongoing ceasefire talks will hopefully bring forth a peace process and an end to this suffering, but this is not the first ceasefire in the 66 year conflict and Karenni people know, now, more than ever that their hopes of returning to their homeland can be easily dashed.
The history of the Karenni provides context for the conflict and the current negotiations. The Karenni were previously granted independence in 1875, according to an agreement between the Burmese government and the British colonial administration.
After World War II, the Karenni were invited to join the union of Burma but they refused citing their long history as an independent state. In 1947, the father of Burmese independence, General Aung San was assassinated. Following this, U Nu took power in Burma and he encouraged Karenni State to be written into the constitution as a constituent part of the union.
After...
Solyaku village will require a demonstration if the SPDC don’t stop confiscating land
By San Phyo Htun for Kantarawaddy Times. September 2014.
Translated and edited by SDC students, staff and volunteers.
In Solyaku village, Hpruso township, the Burmese Army’s 531st light infantry battalion have taken villager’s land. If the government cannot solve this problem, the villagers will demonstrate said Solyaku villager, Khu Htu Reh.
“We are always looking at this situation. What will they say to us? How will they respond to our demands? What measures will they take? Finally, if they do not respond to us or do not take any measures, we will demonstrate.”
Solyaku village is surrounded by mountains. There are only a few areas on the eastern side for growing plants. The local people rely on growing plants and using this land for agriculture. This land has now been confiscated by the military, so the local villagers do not have land to use for agriculture anymore.
This issue has already been submitted to the officials according to Oo Sue Reh, a villager from Solyaku....