The Karens are believed to have settled in what today is Burma/Myanmar in the 6th and 7th century BC. Their oral history suggests that they migrated from Mongolia via the Gobi desert to southern China, Yunnan Province then Tibet and on down into the area now known as Burma/Myanmar and Thailand. They have, historically been separate from and treated as inferior to the Bamar/Burman majority. They have a history of suffering.
(See www.ibiblio.org/obl/docs3/karenmuseum-01/index.htm)
When the American missionaries arrived in the early 1800s they were welcomed with open arms by the Karen, who in their folklore had obscure references to a 'white brother' with a 'holy book'. Quite a few converted to Christianity of various sects and many also began to go to school.
At one time, 22% of the student body of Rangoon University was Karen. In fact though, while the 'Christian' element dominated politically, they never made up more than 15% of the Karen population in Burma. The remainder are mainly Buddhist and Animist or a combination of the latter two. Although there has been no reliable census it appears there were approximately
4-5 million Karen or about 8-10% of the population of Burma In a 1931 slanted census there appeared to be 1.37 that admitted to speaking Karen only and it was about this time that they began to hope for a Karen State. Unlike the Burmans who wanted freedom from the British, the Karen sided with the British from the beginning of the Japanese invasion to the end of WWII. Despite promises of support in the founding of a Karen Nation the British ignored and neglected the Karen when Burma was given its independence in 1948.
General Aung San, Aung San Suu Kyi's father might possibly have treated them more equitably than their British mentors had he not been assassinated six months prior to Independence. While they had a short period of democracy, gradually, the army took control of the Burmese government and the Karens were forced to defend themselves. They have fought defensively for almost sixty years and while they have had their stable, strong periods they continue, particularly in the last decade to lose strength, territory and population. Their villages are burned and/or pillaged. Routinely their young and old women are raped and intimidated. Many are used as porters and human land-mine detectors and many are re-located to suburbs of Burmese cities and provided with nothing. Some other ethnic groups who have signed treaties with the SPDC (State Peace and Development Council) move into Karen areas often setting up amphetamine and or heroin producing and refining farms/factories.
If they survive, the Karens become Internally Displaced People (IDPs), literally living under banana tree leaves in the jungle unless the fear of a complete change lessens and they make it to Thailand and the refugee camps. Many try to hold their farms and send their most motivated or needy to the refugee camps for education they cannot afford or find.
The genocide of this persistent thorn, the Karen, is the aim of the SPDC. The Karen National Liberation Army and the Karen National Union, the political wing, appear to be the only institutions standing between these people and extinction within their own country/state and these no longer have the funding, union and/or capability of making a concerted effort. They do continue to try to defend people and territory although Peace talks in the 2003-4 confused their role. They protect Medics and as well help to deliver medical care and supplies and food and money inside. They also, unlike many other political bodies in this part of the world, have never traded in drugs.* Taxes from their people who are poverty stricken hopefully support what little strength they have.
The Karens, on the whole and perhaps an 'ethnocentric generalization', are known as a cheerful caring people, very kind, moral, generous, gregarious and respectful of each other and of their elders. They were always, renowned for their skills in the caring professions. Yet it must be added that for those living in Thailand, in refugee camps, as migrant workers and as IDPs - the numbers ranging up to well over a million - all illegal and stateless- life, for them as a people, is at a critical stage. Most of the more educated appear to support Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and even her party, The National League for Democracy and most appear to be willing to form a Federation of Burma and to have discussions with the SPDC but only inclusive with all the other ethnic groups. Others still wishfully think the Karen people should have their own country. And so it continues. Meanwhile an entire society, which was and could be self-sufficient and contribute globally, is dying.
*In 1995, a small splinter group of the Karen (The Karen Buddhist Army) working with the SPDC accelerated the Karen decline. The DKBA is involved in drug trafficking. The current Karen National Union (KNU/KNLA) has many Buddhists within its ranks. Few seem to know the percentages.
** Again in 2007 another splinter group was divided from the majority and with SPDC and DKBA help more Border territory was lost.
