Tag: KCSN

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....