"We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed and broken. We are perplexed, but we don't give up and quit. We are hunted down, but God never abandons us. We get knocked down, but we get up again and keep going."
2 Cor. 4:8 NLT
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"We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed and broken. We are perplexed, but we don't give up and quit. We are hunted down, but God never abandons us. We get knocked down, but we get up again and keep going." 2 Cor. 4:8 NLT |
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The Karen are the second largest ethnic minority group in Burma, and the largest hill tribe group in Thailand. They make their home in the mountains alongside the Burma-Thailand border, as well as in the lowland delta area surrounding Yangon. The estimated population is around 5 million. There are other ethnic groups closely related to the Karen, such as the Karenni and Pa'O, and the Karen themselves can be divided along linguistic lines, speaking either Pwo or Sgaw Karen dialects. The majority of Karen are Buddhist and/or Animist, but a sizeable minority (estimates run from 10-30%) are Christian. Traditionally the Karen have lived as farmers, primarily growing rice, chilies, and vegetables. They also hunt and fish for food, and raise livestock such as pigs, cows, and chickens. With the onset of Christianity over the past 150 years, the Karen have increased in literacy and education as well.
The Karen have never been completely autonomous in their history; instead they have been subjugated by the various dominant rulers of the area - Burmese, British, Mons, and Khmers. But after World War II, when Britain granted autonomy to her former colonies, the Karen believed they were going to also be granted statehood because of their loyalty and service to the British during the war. Through a series of events, however, this dream was not actualized and instead the Karen were once again subjugated to rule by the Burmese. Thus, in 1949, the Karen took up arms against the Burmese in a fight for freedom and independence which is still ongoing.
In the 55 years of continuing civil war, Karen civilian populations have been targeted and terrorised by Burmese forces. A policy of "Four Cuts" was implemented in the 1970's (and continues to this day) to cut off supplies of foods, funds, recruits, and intelligence from opposition groups. In actuality this has meant the attack of civilian villages, destruction of food stores, forced labour, systematic rape, relocation, and murder of non-military men, women, and children. As a result, hundreds of thousands of Karen have become refugees - either internally, fleeing and hiding in the jungle, or externally, making the dangerous journey of escape to Thailand.
For the Karen that have fled to Thailand, over 100,000 live in 7 refugee camps up and down the border. The largest camp, Mae La, has over 40,000 people in it. Thousands of others live as illegal migrants, working in destitute conditions such as sweatshops and brothels, with the constant fear of being arrested and deported. For those living in the refugee camps, freedom is compromised for their relative safety. They are unable to work or farm, and are forced to live on UN and NGO aid. Because Thailand did not sign, and thus does not adhere to, the 1951 Convention on Refugees (UN document defining refugee status and international standard for their treatment), the refugees are not allowed to legally integrate into Thai society, or be largely considered for relocation to a third country (such as the US or Australia). Some exceptions are made to the latter, if the refugee can prove that they have undergone specific political or religious persecution. But the vast majority of refugees, fleeing the effects of war, do not qualify. Thus, they live in a bamboo prison of sorts for years on end, unable to come and go as they please, unable to provide for themselves, unable to return home.
The Karen call their homeland in Burma "Kaw Thoo Lei," which can be translated as "Land of Light" or "Land Without Evil." Our prayer at Partners is that one day our Karen friends will be able to return to their land, in peace, with freedom, to live in the light, no longer terrorised by evil.
Karen Human Rights Group (KHRG)
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