European Karen Network Special Tribute to General Saw Tamla Baw, Former President of the KNU

European Karen Network sends its condolences to the Karen National Union, and the family and friends of General Saw Tamla Baw, who passed away on 26 June 2014, age 94.

The passing of General Saw Tamla Baw is a great loss for the Karen people and the whole of Burma. He was a strong and fearless leader who dedicated his life to the struggle for self-determination, democracy and freedom, not just for the Karen, but all the people in Burma. He believed in unity for all ethnic nationalities, under the principles of freedom and equality, within a federal democratic Burma. He was a practical leader who lived by example, and won the love and respect of the Karen and democracy loving people in Burma […]

Thein Sein’s Europe Visit Undermines Prospects for Genuine Reform in Burma

Karen communities across Europe express concern over President Thein Sein visiting European countries and call on European governments to reconsider their foreign policy in light of ongoing serious human rights abuses in Burma […]

Karen in Europe Calls on the EU to Take Stronger Actions on the Attacks in Kachin State

Karen communities in Europe condemn the Burmese Army’s continuous attack against the Kachin people and calls on the Thein Sein government to stop making empty promises of ceasefire, and commit to a genuine nationwide ceasefire and genuine dialogue leading to a political solution in Burma […]

Burmese Government and Aid Donors Should Not Seek To Divide Karen

Recent developments in Karen State have raised serious questions about the Burmese government’s sincerity in its peace negotiations with the Karen National Union (KNU) […]

Karen in Europe Call for Increased Refugee Aid and Political Solution in Burma

The third general meeting of European Karen Network (EKN) was successfully held in Sweden from 13 – 14 July 2012. More than 100 people from various Karen communities across Europe, including women and youths participated in the meeting.

Various issues were discussed […]

Karen Communities Worldwide Call for Peace on International Day of Peace

Karen communities around the world strongly welcome the statement made by the Karen National Union on 15 September 2011, to call for peace in Burma on International Day of Peace on 21st of September. This is the second successive year the KNU have called for such […]

European Parliament Condemns ‘Atrocious’ Violations against Karen

The European Parliament passed a Resolution on Thursday 25 November 2010, following sham elections in Burma and the release of Aung San Suu Kyi. The Resolution noted that the elections were not free or fair, and the release of Aung San Suu Kyi by itself did not represent a positive step forward, without other fundamental changes.

The Resolution also highlighted how the “Burmese military continues to commit atrocious human rights violations against civilians in the ethnic Karen homelands on the Thai border, acts which include extrajudicial killings, forced labour and sexual violence …. continues widespread and systematic forced recruitment of child soldiers” […]

EU Called on Burma’s Regime to End Violating International Law and Enter into Inclusive Dialogue

The European Karen Network welcomes the council conclusions of the European Union (EU) on Monday 26 April 2010, which called on Burma’s military dictatorship to end violations of international human rights and humanitarian law and to enter into dialogue with opposition and ethnic nationalities […]

A Five-Month Old Baby Boy and His Five-Year Old Sister Killed by the Burmese Army

A five-month old baby boy Saw Htee Plar Htoo and his five-year old sister Naw Paw Bo were killed when the Burmese Army troops attacked their village Khaw Hta in Kler Lwe Htoo (Nyaunglinbin) District, Karen State on 22nd March. Their mother, Naw Pa Lah, was seriously wounded on the stomach […]

Human Rights Council Burma Debate Monday – Must Approve Commission of Inquiry

European Karen Network (EKN) calls on members of the Human Rights Council to support a recommendation by Mr. Tomás Ojea Quintana, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Burma, that the UN consider setting up an inquiry into war crimes and crimes against humanity being committed by the Burmese dictatorship. […]