Political Instability and Community Resistance Hamper Smec’s Efforts to Conduct Salween Dam Eia/Sia in eastern Shan State

Blocked by local communities from conducting surveys in Kunhing and Mong Ton townships, Australia’s Snowy Mountains Engineering Corporation (SMEC) has been attempting during July 2015 to carry out its EIA/SIA for the Upper Salween (Mong Ton) dam in several eastern Shan State townships, but has been hampered by political instability and growing community resistance […]

Naypyidaw Must Cancel Its Latest Plans to Build the Upper Salween (Mong Ton) Dam in Shan State

In the past few months, plans have been accelerated to build the Upper Salween (Mong Ton) dam in southern Shan State, which is a joint project between China’s Three Gorges Corporation, the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand, and Myanmar’s Ministry of Electric Power and International Group of Entrepreneurs […]

Mong Ton Villagers Protest Against Salween Dam at Consultation Meeting

About 150 local villagers protested against the planned Upper Salween (Mong Ton) dam during a consultation organized by Australia’s Snowy Mountain Engineering Corporation (SMEC) in Mong Ton, southern Shan State, Burma on April 6, 2015 […]

Afraid to Go Home: Recent Violent Conflict and Human Rights Abuses in Karen State

Introduction

The following report was prepared by Karen Rivers Watch (KRW), a coalition of six Karen organizations focused on the environment, women, youth, human rights and development issues. More information about KRW is provided on page 14.

This report is based on field interviews with local villagers and leaders of Karen armed groups, as well as media coverage of the recent conflict. It describes events that led to recent armed conflict between the Democratic Karen Benevolent Army (DKBA) and the combined force of the Burmese Army (BA) and Border Guard Force (BGF) in Karen State. Next, the report gives a detailed account of clashes that occurred along the Salween River in Hpa-an and Hpapun (Mutraw) districts. […]

New Report Documents Recent Violent Conflict in Karen State

New Report Documents Recent Violent Conflict in Karen State
More than 2,000 villagers were displaced in October as fighting resumed in Karen State, the site of the world’s longest-running civil war. A report released today by Karen Rivers Watch (KRW) reveals that the outbreak of fighting – after two years of ceasefire negotiations […]