Video

Way Boo Hta Declaration

𝐖𝐚𝐲 𝐁𝐨𝐨 𝐇𝐭𝐚 𝐃𝐞𝐜𝐥𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 | 𝘋𝘦𝘤𝘭𝘢𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘰𝘧 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘪𝘵𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘐𝘯𝘥𝘪𝘨𝘦𝘯𝘰𝘶𝘴 𝘒𝘢𝘳𝘦𝘯 𝘗𝘦𝘰𝘱𝘭𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘦𝘳𝘷𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘥𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘦 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘚𝘢𝘭𝘸𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘙𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘉𝘢𝘴𝘪𝘯
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The Indigenous Karen People’s Declaration of Commitment to Preserve …the Wildlife in the Salween River Basin (Way Boo Hta Declaration) is a historic step to combat forest loss and protect endangered species. Following a crucial two-day conference (April 17th-18th, 2025), communities, rangers, and partners (including KESAN) reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening Karen traditional practices for conservation. The new action plan focuses on reinforcing taboos, strictly preventing the wildlife trade, and empowering community forest rangers.
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Learn more about this vital commitment and the future of the Salween Peace Park’s biodiversity by watching the full video. This is a story of tradition, collective action, and hope for harmony between people and nature.Show More

Way Boo Hta Declaration

Meeting with Saw Albert, Field Director of the Karen Human Rights Group (KHRG)

The Living Cultural TerritorySacred and Historical Sites in the Salween Peace Park

The Salween Peace Park, the first Indigenous-conserved territory in Kawthoolei as well as in Burma/Myanmar, is rich in abundant natural resources, biodiversity, and cultural heritages. It is the “living cultural …territory” that connects intergenerational bonds within the Karen (K’nyaw) community and preserves the ancestral memories so that the young generation will continue to understand, appreciate, and carry on the cultural spirits to the future. Salween Peace Park also embodies reciprocal relationships between human and nature, safeguards traditional and cultural heritage and identity, and sustains local histories from different generations.
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Located in Mutraw District, there are many sacred lands and historical sites in Salween Peace Park. They include vast network of beautiful rivers, mountains, valleys, waterfalls, cliffs, spiritual gravesites, caves, and others. These sacred lands and historical sites nourish us every day not just in terms of supporting our livelihoods but also spiritually. From September 2024 to March 2025, we undertook community-based participatory research as a way to bring attention to these important sacred and historical sites in Salween Peace Park. Crucially, we did this to defend and reclaim our territorial rights, strengthen autonomous governance systems, preserve cultural heritage, and actualize our collective self-determination rights. The sacred and historical sites included Thawthi Kho (Mount Thawhti), Paw Law Pu, Ler Mu Kho Ser (Stony Cliff), Htee Nu Pu (Cave), Hlo Pwor Bi (Ancestors’ Spiritual Gravesite), Pwo Pwor Lay, Hkeh Pa Lay in Luthaw Township; Ker Kaw Lay, Hkoe Ler Phar, Thu Mu Lay, and Htee Theh Lay in Dwelo Township; and Par Baw Lay, Tar Ko Law Kyoe, and T’ Ri Kyoe (only photos and video were obtained) in Butho Township of Mutraw District in the Indigenous-conserved territory of the Salween Peace Park.
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This research is our collaborative initiative to document the historic narrative and importance of Salween Peace Park in Mutraw District from Indigenous Karen perspective that centers our intimate and spiritual relations with our sacred land, forest, water and wildlife. Therefore, this research and this report will be instrumental to move forward in achieving the Salween Peace Park’s goals of peace and self-determination, environmental integrity, and cultural survival.Show More

The Salween – In Memory of Saw thomas – A Musical Tribute to the Salween River

With heavy hearts and deep respect, we honor the life and legacy of 𝐒𝐚𝐰 𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐦𝐚𝐬 — 𝐚 𝐫𝐞𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐤𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐞𝐫 whose music gave voice to the land and people of Burma.
Today, …we are sharing a 𝐧𝐨𝐭-𝐲𝐞𝐭-𝐫𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐬𝐨𝐧𝐠 he composed: “𝐒𝐚𝐥𝐰𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐑𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫.”
Originally intended for release earlier, this powerful piece was delayed due to various challenges. Now, we feel it is the right moment to bring it to the world — as a tribute to Saw Thomas’s incredible talent and his deep commitment to the causes he cared about.
“Salween River” follows the path of the mighty river as it flows through Shan State, Karenni State, Karen State, and Mon State — weaving together the stories of four ethnic regions with four traditional melody styles, beautifully blended with modern music.
The song captures the 𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐛𝐞𝐚𝐮𝐭𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐚𝐥𝐰𝐞𝐞𝐧, raises 𝐚𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐥𝐚𝐫𝐠𝐞-𝐬𝐜𝐚𝐥𝐞 𝐡𝐲𝐝𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫 𝐝𝐚𝐦𝐬, and calls on 𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐩𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐁𝐮𝐫𝐦𝐚 𝐭𝐨 𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐯𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐞.
This is more than a song — it is a message, a memory, and a legacy.
🎶 Through this release, we celebrate the life and spirit of Saw Thomas.
🕊️ May his music continue to inspire us. May his soul rest in peace.
🎵 Listen to “Salween River” – dedicated to the memory of Saw Thomas.
📽️ We are also working on a music video that will bring this song to life through powerful visuals — showing the beauty of the Salween River and the diverse cultures of the ethnic peoples who depend on it.Show More

World Refugee Day Event

Kawthoolei and Nature #environmentalawareness #nature #conservation

New Book Launch Ontologies of Indigenous Karen People [Live on: KESAN Facebook Page]

🌱 Trees for the Future and Climate Resilience🌳