This news story from 2006 alerted me to a war I didn’t know anybody was fighting: the liberation of Karen State from Myanmar. The KNLA (Karen National Liberation Army) and KNU (Karen National Union) have been fighting for independence since the British left Burma (Myanmar) in 1948. What do you get a 51-year old rebel movement for its birthday? Here are their demands:
- For us, surrender is out of the question.
- We shall retain our arms.
- The recognition of the Karen State must be complete.
- We shall decide our own political destiny.