The world's longest ongoing conflict has its home inside of the troubled nation of Burma. For sixty years, the Burmese government has been fighting rebels from the ethnic minority Karen people. The Karen National Union (KNU) and it's military arm, the Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA) have led the charge of Karen resistance. The dispute, dating back to WWII, still rages on today. During WWII the Karen sided with British and American forces while the Burmese sided with the Japanese....
more »The world's longest ongoing conflict has its home inside of the troubled nation of Burma. For sixty years, the Burmese government has been fighting rebels from the ethnic minority Karen people. The Karen National Union (KNU) and it's military arm, the Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA) have led the charge of Karen resistance. The dispute, dating back to WWII, still rages on today. During WWII the Karen sided with British and American forces while the Burmese sided with the Japanese. At the war's end, the Karen found the promises of their ally's for an independent Karen State empty, and were abandoned to fend for themselves against a new and aggressive Burmese government. They have been fighting ever since.
Today's KNLA is a much weaker version than that of days past, but it is far from beaten. The method of warfare has evolved over time from traditional warfare to a guerilla resistance. Years of internal disputes, loss of ground, limited supplies, and an aggressive campaign by the Burmese junta have pushed the rebels into the jungle.
The rebels fight for the Karen people, of which an estimated seven million live in Burma. Reports of the ruling Burmese junta's State Peace and Development Council (SPDC), atrocities against the Karen people are numerous and widespread. For years the SPDC has been accused of violations against the Karen civilian population, including forced labor, sexual violence, murder, and the destruction of entire villages.
Such atrocities have drummed up strong support for the KNLA among the local villagers and refugees throughout the world.
Yet, after sixty years, the conflict continues. The KNLA vows to fight until the end, when and such end will come about is yet to be seen. As long as war drags on the KNLA will continue to send their men, young and old alike, to the front lines to fight for the freedom of the Karen people.
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