March 5, 2008  The Karen Situation
By David Downham

Since 1995 and the fall of Mannerplaw, the Karen have been fighting a rear guard action. Up to that point the KNU was a single body. A small group of Karen led by a Buddhist Monk led a group of SPDC soldiers into the Mannerplaw stronghold and Mannerplaw fell. A group of Buddhist Karen then formed the DKBA and the breach was establishedaaaaa; a breach that has persisted until the present day, and which more than anything has led to the loss of territory and proper self government by the Karen people. Much of the responsibility for the break-down must be laid at the feet of the leader at the time of Mannerplau, General Bo Moyo, who failed to include the leaders of the DKBA in a fair division of power. Though it has to be said too that the DKBA have shown themselves to be Clannist, more interested in their immediate material advantage, and happy to trade in drugs, which is something that the KNU have always vigorously opposed. This factionalism is a major reason for the failure of the Karen to be successful against the attacks by the SPDC.

The Burmese Military have been without conscience in their cruelty towards the Karen people; stealing food and animals, burning their villages, killing, and raping. The Karen have been used for forced labour; made to walk ahead of the soldiers as Human Landmine Detectors; relocated to other areas. Unable to live any longer in their villages, many people have been forced to hide in the jungle, where they have been starved, living without shelter, subject to Malaria, Pneumonia and GI Disease. Even if they manage to escape death at the direct hands of the Burmese Military, survival then becomes very problematic because of these deprivations.

It is true that there are some areas where the Burmese Military is not very active and where a reasonable village life is just possible, but this can never be relied on. The Karen Language may not be taught in the schools, if the schools are indeed functioning. Living standards are very poor. There is a constant migration of families to the camps, and of children, who have either lost their parents, or whose parents have arranged for them to go to Hostels or friend families in the Camps, because of fear for their safety, or concern because of the lack of education, or both.

Isolation, living in the Mountains, the absence of the Karen Military, the lack of any significant economic factor, such as minerals, oil, good farming land, forestry or water resources or hopefully that such things have not been recognized , protect the people, from the SPDC. But this comes at the cost of continuing to live in great simplicity. Nor is it a guarantee of safety; but a sort of camouflage that is protective against the military abuse.

As a result of the continuing conflict of over sixty years, Karen Society has become divided into groups. The majority continue to live in Karen State. It is estimated that over a million ethnic Burmese live as legal and illegal migrant workers in Thailand. There are over 150,000 living in the Border Refugee camps and an increasing number are now in mainly Norway, Australia, the United States, Finland, New Zealand and Canada. This exodus is being managed by the UNHCR. The host countries vary remarkably in the generosity and sensitivity they display to their newly arriving citizens. There is very little effective effort to educate people about to take up life in another country, about what they can expect, where they will be living and what work may be available. It is assumed for example that life anywhere in Canada is going to be so much better than life in the Camps – this cannot be said - for certain. This brain drain of the most talented of the people has had a very negative effect on those left behind. Looking at the policy, it is hard to believe it is based on a Humanitarian motivation.

The Church remains a strong cultural force. The army is very depleted, but continues to be held in great respect.

On February 14 th . 2008, two men drove to the home of Mahn Sha, the Secretary-General of the KNU. They walked into the room where he was and he greeted them, presumably knowing them. They then shot and killed him and drove away. This was a huge loss to the Karen political process. He was very much respected, with very sound judgment and was emerging as a leader that might have been able to bring the Karen together once more. He had studied in Rangoon University and in China. Tragically political assassination has now become part of the scene. It is believed the assassins were from the DKBA. The DKBA have denied involvement. But terms of the payment put up by the SPDC are well known.

The Karen government is presently in disarray, and significantly out of touch with the people. It is hard to know how much the army and the KNU are in contact and cooperating. The large numbers in the camps are under the authorities first of the Karen Camp Counsels and then of the Ministry of the Interior of Thailand. As time goes on it is possible that the emigrant Karen may be able to get together in ‘cells' and form some sort of political force in support of their people, reminiscent of the Jewish Diaspora, but this will take a long time to establish. It is vital the government assumes responsibility for all of the Karen people, has an opinion and a voice, and an aim for the future, speaks to the activities of the UNHCR, listens to but is not be dominated by the foreign policies of other countries.

It is essential that the secondary conflict between the KNU and the DKBA is resolved and the army again becomes one cooperative force. Likely this will have to be through a process of nurturing and pruning. At present, there is no further place for anything but ‘Guerrilla' activity and this has to be very measured, goal orientated and reactive so that generally it is effective but does not provoke heavy retaliatory response against the population.

Close ties and help needs to be sought with the governments of friendly and sympathetic countries and with groups within countries on an unofficial basis. An ongoing cooperation is needed with the other Ethnic Minorities. It has to be constantly pointed out that the Civic Disturbances and the abuse of Human Rights in Burma is a threat to the whole world and has to be of grave concern to all nations.