Who is the leader of the Karens?
| Karen National Liberation Army | |
|---|---|
| Leaders | Saw Mutu Say Poe Saw Tamlabaw (2000–2008) Bo Mya (1976–2000) Saw Ba U Gyi † (1949–1950) |
| Dates of operation | 1949 – present |
| Headquarters | Lay Wah Manerplaw (until 1995) |
| Active regions | Kayah State Kayin State Tanintharyi Region Bago Region Mon State |
What is the difference between Burmese and Karen?
Do not confuse or refer to the Karen as Burmese. Ethnically, they are an entirely different group and many do not speak Burmese. Although the Karen have come from the country of Burma, it is not by choice. In addition, the Karen were driven from their homes by the Burmese.
Who are the Karens in Burma?
These Karen groups reside primarily in Kayin State, southern and southeastern Myanmar. The Karen, approximately five million people, account for approximately seven percent of the Burmese population. Many Karen have migrated to Thailand, having settled mostly on the Thailand–Myanmar border.
What is the Karen flag?
The Karen national flag consists of three main colors: red, blue, and white. The three colors denote a certain meaning; red is for bravery, white for purity/sincerity, and blue for honesty. The nine rays of light streaming from the rising sun indicate the nine regions from which Karen people trace their origins.
How many KNU are there?
The seven KNU districts are responsible for electing their own District Chairmans and District Standing Committee leaders every two years. As the District Chairmans and Brigade Commanders are elected at local levels, they are automatically appointed as Central Standing Committee Members.
What is a Karen color?
Symbols. The Karen national flag consists of three main colors: red, blue, and white. On the top left corner is the traditional Karen frog drum to symbolize unity in traditional Karen culture. It is called the frog drum because it is covered with frog skin.
Where did the Karen conflict take place in Burma?
The Karen Conflict has been portrayed by the outside world as a conflict which was fought in the hills along the Burma–Thailand border. But in the 1950s and 1960s Karen insurgency groups also attacked Burmese targets in the Irrawaddy riverdelta.
What was the cause of the Karen conflict?
Karen Conflict. The Karen Conflict (1949–present day) is an armed conflict in Burma (Myanmar) known as the ‘longest civil war in the world’. The Karen nationalist movement has been fighting for more autonomy and/or independence within Burma. The Karen people have been fighting for an independent Karen state since 1949, to Karen known as Kawthoolei.
What did the Burmese do to the Karens?
Burmese soldiers terrorize Karen villages every dry season by burning their villages, killing or torturing civilians, and raping women and girls. Due to the annual threats to their lives and villages, many Karen must flee across the border to refugee camps in neighboring Thailand. Life in the refugee camps is difficult and uncertain.
What kind of people are the Karen in Myanmar?
The Sgaw Karen people make up Myanmar’s Christian population, and it is the Sgaw Karen that began and still continues to drive the Karen nationalist movement. The Sgaw Karen were converted to Christianity by Protestant American missionaries in the 19 th century.