The Karen National Union (KNU) is one of the ethnic armed organisations that has attacked Myanmar’s military since its February coup.KNU Brigade 5 seized two military outposts in Papun District in Karen State and blocked food deliveries to military troops based in Papun, prompting the military to carry out airstrikes, which killed several people and forced thousands to flee their homes.Besides military action, the KNU is negotiating with the Committee Representing the Pyidaungsu Hlut

Myanmar activists daubed roadways with red paint Tuesday to protest against the junta's bloody crackdown on protests, as an online fundraising drive to support the movement neared the US$10 million mark.The country has been in turmoil since the military ousted civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi on 1 February, rocked by daily clashes between protestors and authorities that have left at least 570 people dead.10 of Myanmar's ethnic rebel armies voiced support for the protest movement at

An Australian couple was released from house arrest in Myanmar and allowed to leave the country, as protests against the military junta continued Monday.Myanmar has been in turmoil since a 1 February coup ousted civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi and derailed the country's experiment with democracy.Business consultants Matthew O'Kane and Christa Avery, a dual Canadian-Australian citizen, tried to leave the country on a relief flight in late March but were barred from departing and pla

Speeches by beauty pageant contestants rarely make headlines.But when Han Lay, Miss Grand Myanmar, spoke out last week against alleged atrocities committed by her country's military, her speech turned heads."Today in my country Myanmar ... there are so many people dying," she said at the Miss Grand International 2020 event in Thailand. "Please help Myanmar.

Anti-coup demonstrators in Myanmar decorated boiled eggs on Sunday, as Pope Francis in his Easter message expressed solidarity with the country's youth.Myanmar has been gripped by turmoil since a 1 February coup ousted civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi and derailed the country's tentative transition to democracy. Security forces have sought to quell a mass uprising with lethal force and the death toll reached 564 as of late Sunday, according to local monitoring group Assista

ASEAN, and Thailand in particular, have a responsibility to convince Myanmar's generals to change course, or risk the grouping losing all credibility, says former Thai foreign minister Kasit Piromya.Kasit, who was foreign minister between 2008 and 2011 – during Myanmar's transition to a hybrid form of democracy – told an Asian media. "10 years ago, we were midwives to democracy (in Myanmar) and now it has been snatched away so we all have the obligation, Thailand in pa

Myanmar's ousted civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi has been accused of breaking a colonial-era official secrets law, her lawyer said, as Britain ramped up sanctions against the junta and the United Nations (UN) Security Council condemned the deaths of hundreds of civilians.The newly unveiled charge came amid growing international outrage over the 1 February coup and the military's subsequent clampdown on protesters that has left at least 535 people dead.After two days of back-and-for

China on Wednesday (31 March) said it wanted a "democratic transition" in military-ruled Myanmar, but ruled out sanctions at a United Nations (UN) Security Council meeting."China hopes that Myanmar will restore peace, stability and constitutional order as early as possible and continue to steadily advance democratic transition," Ambassador Zhang Jun told the closed-door meeting, according to a statement."Maintaining peace and stability in Myanmar is in the co

Civilians wounded in Myanmar air strikes on rebel positions spoke of their terrifying ordeal Tuesday after trekking through jungle to seek medical treatment across the border in Thailand.Military jets hit targets in eastern Karen state on Saturday and Sunday, as Myanmar reeled from the deadliest day so far in the junta's crackdown on anti-coup protests.The strikes targeted territory held by the Karen National Union (KNU), one of the nation's largest ethnic armed groups, which had ea

Myanmar protesters held overnight candle-lit vigils after an advocacy group said security forced had now killed over 500 people since the 1 February coup.