Burma – Karenni Social Development Center

The armed groups within Burma crawl closer to an NCA

May 8, 2015 by karennisdc Comment Closed

The various armed ethnic groups within Burma appear to be moving closer to a nationwide ceasefire agreement with the Burmese government. On 31st March, the Burmese government and 16 ethnic armed groups agreed in principle to the draft Nationwide Ceasefire agreement. Some have acclaimed this agreement as a precursor to peace but others believe this draft agreement is being over emphasized and that it is only a small step towards peace. All of the ethnic people know well that much has to be done before a genuine and long lasting peace can be achieved. For the Karenni people, it has been a long wait for a long lasting peace. The conflict in Karenni State has been ongoing for over 60 years and there has only been a Burmese government and KNPP ceasefire since 2012. The KNPP wish to participate in nationwide ceasefire talks before moving on to peace talks with the Burmese government. The KNPP and other ethnic armed groups have joined...

SDC Free and Fair election campaign

February 6, 2015 by karennisdc Comment Closed

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...

Trainings on the constitution, democracy and governments

June 13, 2014 by karennisdc Comment Closed

In February 2014, our alumni inside completed their inside trainings. In our 2013- 2014 school year, we conducted three trainings on the constitution. The trainers were SDC alumni: Gay Gorio, Na Ree, Aye Aung and Saw Maung. 35 local villagers attended each of the trainings. The first training was in Pruso; the second was in Demoso (LeeWoo); the final training was in Demoso (Kwaingei). Each project required substantial on the ground planning because of the unpredictable situation inside Karenni State. Our alumni planned and organised the projects by firstly informing the village heads of their intentions to run trainings. This was important in order to get permission and enable people to attend. The trainings were on the subjects of democracy, government, human rights and the rule of law. During the trainings, the feedback from participants was that the knowledge was useful. One measure of success has been the requests we have received from people in Pruso for further trainings. There have also been...

Research and Campaign Regarding the Dam Development Project In Karenni State

June 11, 2014 by karennisdc Comment Closed

The Inside Program was conducted in May 2012. SDC conducted research regarding the dam development project in Karenni State. The damming of Salween River has caused environmental degradation and forced displacement over the past decades, and has been the cause of violent conflicts. The current dam project funded by Chinese investors continues to ignore environmental consequences, and will adversely affect the local population. After researching the current situation, SDC published a report to draw attention of the environmental issues. Learn more about the Hatgyi Dam....

Khu Lee Reh’s Story

June 6, 2014 by karennisdc Comment Closed

Class of 2006 My name is Khu Lee Reh. I was born in Law Kyae Khu village, Hproso Towship of Karenni State. There are nine people in my family. They are farmers and rely on hill site cultivation. So we get our living cost and other essential needs such as school fee for children and health care cost from our farms. I started my primary school in my village. I continued middle school and high school in the town. I left school in 10th grade because my parents needed help farming and they were unable to pay my tuition. I often helped my family with the menial tasks ordered by the SPDC military troops. Even though I understood that it was an injustice, I could not escape these situations. Eventually, I met other villagers who tried to escape execution by SPDC troops and came with them to Karenni Refugee camp in Thailand on May 25th, 2004. Then I continued to study 10th grade in...

Law wha’s story

June 6, 2014 by karennisdc Comment Closed

Class of 2013 My name is Law Wha. I am 25 years old. I was born in Law Da Lay village, Loi Kaw Township of Karenni State. I am Kayah of Karenni nationality. I am one of the SDC students from the SDC and have been learning there. My parents are farmers. My family moved to Baw La Khen Township from Law Da Lay village in 1992 to find freedom from the political situation under the ruling of the SPDC government and the Burmese military government. When we arrived in Baw La Khen, my father bought a plot of land and built a small house with the little money he had. After arriving there, the economic situation of my family worsened, and as a result, we had nothing to eat but boiled rice. There are 9 members in my family including my parents. I am the 3rd of 7 children. I start school when I was 5 years old, but because of...

Yen Lin’s Story

March 1, 2013 by karennisdc Comment Closed

Class of 2012 My name is Yen Lin. I am 23 years old. I was born in Khyut Pain Kawt Township, Pengu Division of Burma. I am a student of SDC. My parents are Oo San Aye and Daw Hlai Hlai Win. My father was a taxi driver and my mother was a housekeeper. I lived with my parents from the time I was born until I was 13 years old. However, my father passed away when I was studying in 4th standard. After that, my mother remarried. After my father died, it was a very difficult time for me and I struggled with many problems in my life. When I was 9 years old I went to live with my stepfather. I never stayed at my home permanently because I had to go gambling with my stepfather to make money for our living. When I was 10 years old, I became a monk and stayed with other Buddhist monks at...