Geography:
Karenni State is situated between Burma and Thailand. Total surface area is 11,731.5 sq. km. Karenni shares an international border with Thailand. Mae Hong Son province to the east and state boundaries with Shan state in the north-west and Karen state in the south-west.



People:
Population:

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.

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