Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organization

March 25, 2008

Karenni State

STATISTICS

Population: 300,000
Area: 11, 731.5 squared km
Language: English and Karenni (Sgaw, Pwo, and Pa'o)
Religion: Buddhism, Christianity, Animism 

UNPO REPRESENTATION

Karenni State became a member of the UNPO on 19 January 1993.

Karenni Independence through Education (KITE).  Its Mission Statement:
The mission of Karenni Independence Through Education is to provide financial and organizational support for community-based organizations, individuals, and projects in the Karenni Refugee Camps in Mae Hong Son, Thailand and within Karenni State which
• Develop youth and student community-involvement, leadership, and inter-ethnic cooperation.
• Bring awareness about the situation in Karenni State and the refugee camps to an international level.
• Build and foster educational opportunities and resources for Karenni students, especially those that focus on cultural preservation and community development.

OVERVIEW

The Karenni State is situated on the Thai-Burma border, with Shan State to the north, and Karen State to the south. It is believed that the Karenni people migrated from Mongolia and settled in their present location in 739 BC. The state covers an area of 11,731.5 square kilometers, and has a population of around 300,000.
Whilst other states in Burma were annexed as part of India in 1885, the British recognized, by an agreement in 1875, the independence and sovereignty of Karenni State. When the Burmese received independence in 1948, they unilaterally included Karenni State in the Union of Burma, without the knowledge of the Karenni Supreme Council or the consultation with the Karenni people.

People

“Karenni”, meaning Red Karen, is a sub-tribe of Karen people. As their favorite color is red, and they prefer red dresses, they have been known by the Burmans as Karenni. The Karenni people are composed of diverse sub-tribal groups, which are ethnically closely linked. The location of the origin of the Karenni people is Mongolia in Central Asia. Later they gradually moved to the south of Asia, namely Burma (Myanmar). The Karenni are, along with the Mon State, the oldest indigenous inhabitants of present day Burma. Karenni had a total population of 207,357 in 1998 and a very low population density. For almost five decades the Karenni people have endured extreme Burmese persecution and have fought to retain their unique identity and sovereignty.

While movements of people have been taking place for over two centuries, currently three forms of displacements predominate within the state; conflict induced displacements, development induced displacements and displacements arising as a result of resource scarcity. These displacements have given rise to forced and voluntary movements of people into relocation sites, into hiding in the state, into the neighbouring state of Thailand and further into Burma. Malnutrition and food shortages appear to be a major problem for displaced populations. In fact, Karenni has a higher rate of malnutrition than most areas in Burma.

Since 1996 the Burmese Government has destroyed over 2,500 villages and in the last year alone five thousand Karennis have been forced to flee their villages due to a continuing campaign of intimidation against the ethnic minorities.  Villagers are subjected to forced relocation, villages are burnt and they live under the constant threat of rape, beatings, and arrests, being enlisted as porters for the Burmese army and having their food and possessions snatched from them. Many Karenni end up living in the jungle in temporary shelters, with inadequate access to water, isolated from familiar food sources and any medical services or supplies, save their own jungle remedies, and their children are denied an education. The alternative is to find themselves in relocation camps run by the Burmese Army, where they are subjected to forced labour, beatings and starvation. It's a familiar pattern that leaves an estimated 50,000 Karenni people classified as IDPs (Internally Displaced People). These are the forgotten people. Unlike refugees little or no aid reaches them.
 
POLITICAL SITUATION

Overview

The Karenni people are an indigenous ethnic minority that has faced persecution by the Burmese military junta since Independence. Systematic arrests, imprisonment, extrajudicial killings, destruction of houses, forced relocations, and land seizures have been reported, giving rise to countless refugees along the Thai-Burmese border. Those denied official refugee status by Thai officials are subsequently denied rights by which local non-governmental organizations (NGOs) can relocate them to other countries. Accordingly, such refugees are restricted from leaving overcrowded refugee camps.

Displacement and Quality of Life

For almost five decades the Karenni people have endured extreme Burmese persecution and have fought to retain their identity and sovereignty. Widespread internal conflict and resource scarcity have given rise to countless refugees to neighbouring Thailand and internally displaced persons (IDPs). It is reported that, since 1996, over 2,500 Karenni villages have been destroyed by the Burmese regime. In last year alone, 5,000 Karennis have been reportedly forced to flee their homes as part of a continuing campaign of intimidation against ethnic minorities.
Amongst the displaced, malnutrition and food shortages remain of grave concern.

Education

Whilst Burmese officials have noted a strong link between the need to develop education systems in Karenni state with local stability and have nominated Loikaw as a selected zone for development projects, education remains widely unavailable. School fees render education beyond the reach of most Karenni people, who struggle to pay for textbooks and uniforms. Schools in rural areas are generally poorly supplied, whilst very limited educational provisions are offered to children in IDP areas. Villages that do have primary schools suffer widely from a shortage of teaching staff, lack of teacher training, and a dearth of funds.
 
Healthcare

Healthcare is largely inaccessible to those in rural areas, where hospitals are scarce and the cost of medicine remains beyond the reach of most local residents. Township hospitals and health clinics are poorly equipped and severely under-staffed.

UNICEF has facilitated immunization and malaria prevention programs in the country, and distributes vitamins and deworming tablets to help combat malnutrition. However, the number of Karenni children immunized remains low as many in need live in restricted areas beyond the reach of medical teams. It is also reported that a lack of financial support from central government has forced some hospitals to charge patients for drugs provided freely by international aid agencies.
 
Violence and conflict

The number of armed groups in Karenni has increased. Along with the Tatmadaw and the opposition Karenni Army, there are also numerous groups who aid the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC) in return for economic concessions and rewards for its leaders and small splinter groups. All have brought the war to the villages. The Four Cuts Policy, introduced in the 1970s, aimed to undermine support for armed opposition groups by cutting access to supplies, information, recruits and food. Whilst the regime denies a deliberate policy of ethnic cleansing, the victims of its counter-insurgency measures are often Karenni civilians. Such counter-insurgency measures have been reported to lead to increased militarization, forced displacement, and the burning and looting of villages in an effort to crush support for rebel groups.

The Tatmadaw have also been reported to demand food and unpaid labour from local civilians, some of whom have reportedly been pulled into conflict to porter ammunition and act as human landmine sweepers.
 
Self-determination

Since 1948, the Karenni people have resisted the Burmese regime and endeavoured to regain control of their own state and preserve its traditions, culture and languages. At the forefront of this struggle is the Karenni National Progressive Party (KNPP), which has led the armed struggle and organized aid to the Karenni people since 1957. A ceasefire was established in 1995, which collapsed within months. The KNPP has alleged an ethnic cleansing agenda by the Burmese military. It has been put forth that the Karenni, in line with the policies of a number of other ethnic states, are in pursuit of establishing a Burmese federal union in which ethnic minorities would be offered autonomy.

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND

Historically, the Nation-State of Karenni was recognized as independent by its neighbouring states and countries. Until 1948, there was no evidence in any history - Karenni or Burmese - that it had been a colony of the Burmans.

On June 21, 1875, the honourable Sir Douglas Forsyth who represented the Imperial British government, and King Wounmingui, on behalf of the Burmese, signed an agreement that Karenni was to be under the control of neither the British nor the Burmans.

In February 1946, the Shan sawbwas (princes) invited Karenni sawphyas to attend the First Panglong Conference, which was to be held in Shan State. The Karenni Sawphyas refused to attend the conference because Karenni was an independent country and they feared that by attending a meeting sponsored by the people of the British colony (the Shan States) they would risk losing their independence.

In the same month, Mr. Stephenson, Chief Commissioner of the Frontier Areas Administrative Board (FAAB) arrived in Loikaw, the capital of Karenni State. He came to Karenni State to ask whether the Karenni government had any desire to join this Frontier Areas Administration Board. Sooner or later the British government would give autonomy to Burma, at which point the Shan, Karen, Chin, and Kachin of the Frontier Areas planned to combine and form the Frontier Areas Administrative Board. The Karenni government also decided not to join the Frontier Areas because by joining it might lose its independence and sovereignty.

The Burmese Anti-Fascist People's Freedom League (AFPFL) wanted Karenni State to join the Frontier Area. They tried to persuade the Karenni people to join their would-be formed union of Burma, but Karenni leaders were not interested. The AFPFL used many tactics in their attempt to absorb Karenni State, but Karenni leaders had already decided to safeguard the independence and self-determination of Karenni State. All of the leaders of the Frontier Areas attended the Panglong Conference and signed the Panglong Agreement. Karenni leaders did not attend and did not sign, but the Burmese AFPFL, in one of its attempts to force Karenni State into the agreement, told the British that Karenni State had signed the Panglong Agreement and had become part of the Frontier Areas.

The leaders of the Frontiers Areas accepted the accession of their states to Burma with the intention of forming the Union of Burma by signing the Panglong Agreement on 12 February. The Burmese government would soon try other methods of putting pressure on Karenni State to join its Union.

1948 Burma became independent from the British Empire and the Karenni State was incorporated into Burma. The Karenni people refused to accept Burma’s rule and because of that, military administration was imposed on them.
1976 The State Law and Order Restoration Council (SLORC) of Burma began to carry out a population transfer program. Karenni villagers have been forcibly moved to designate relocation sites where there are insufficient food and medical supplies.

1988 Demonstrations protesting against 26-year SLORC military rule took place. Thousands of protesters were killed. Limited area has been put under direct military control. The government of Karenni State, represented by the Karenn National Progressive Party (KNPP), was established in 1992, when the Charter of Karenni was drafted, in which all international treaties and Geneva Conventions were included. Situated at the Thai-Burma border, the government is constituted by the Prime Minister, who was the KNPP Chairman, the President, and Ministers of Interior, Health, Education, Finance, Foreign Affairs and Judiciary.  The Karenni State was divided into 3 districts with 17 townships. 

1995 The Karenni National Party agreed to a cease-fire with SLORC to end the armed conflict, which had been going on against successive regimes ever since the first invasion of Burma’s troops in Karenni. The cease-fire did not hold for long.
From December 1996 to May 1997, 4,000 villagers were forcibly relocated; some of them several times, while those trying to escape the relocation were killed. In relocation camps, there was insufficient food, unsatisfactory sanitary conditions and few medical provisions. Villagers who are relocated often must leave behind their belongings, including much needed food supplies.  Those who attempt to return to their former homes to collect such belongings are subject to torture and killing.
In January 1997, 14 ethnic groups who reside in Burma, including the KNPP, met in order to construct a common program to end military rule and restore democracy. 

SLORC launched a new military offensive in June 1997, called Myay Lan Sanit, or "Uprooting Area", whereby SLORC troops were under orders to kill anyone, including women and children, found in specific areas. 
In 1998, the Government of Karenni hoped to engage external governments in negotiations and persuade the European Commission to consider diplomatic support and financial aid to Karenni State.

In 1999, three small factions of the KNPP signed cease-fire agreements. Further negotiations with other KNPP factions have not been successful and have been surrounded by threats and the death of two negotiators.

There have been constant clashes between the soldiers of Burma’s military junta, State Peace and Development Council (SPDC) and the fighters of Karenni National Progressive Party (KNPP) in 2004, however, without a definitive outcome. In February 2005, although there were proposed ceasefire talks between both sides, there have been no further developments and the fighting continues. Nevertheless, the KNPP were willing to enter talks towards a peace agreement.

In 2005 widespread religious freedom violations of the Christian Karenni continue by the Burmese government.  

Links:

www.karenni.org
www.burmalibrary.org
http://www.ibiblio.org/obl/docs/responses.htm