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The '''Karen''' are an ethnic group of people mainly in Burma ([[Myanmar]]) but with some across the border in [[Thailand]].
The Karen have been fighting for independence since 1949, making it the world's longest-running [[civil war]], yet "almost entirely unreported".<ref name="PT">Thornton</ref>
The population of the Karen people is officially 7,000,000, although the Karen people themselves claim it to be twice that.<ref name="KW">Karen Website</ref><ref name="PT" />
When the Karen were first visited by a European (a British diplomat) in 1795, the Karen were waiting for the fulfilment of a prophecy that they would one day be visited by a white man bringing with him a book, like they themselves lost long ago. This book was written by the Supreme God, Y'wa.<ref name="DR">Richardson</ref>
The Karen had resisted attempts by [[Buddhism|Buddhist]] monks to convert the people to Buddhism, but when [[Christianity|Christian]] missionaries arrived many years later, many Karen readily embraced Christianity,<ref name="DR" /> which now makes up at least 30% of the Karen population.<ref name="KW" /> [[Animism|Animists]] and Buddhists make up the rest.<ref name="KW" />
During [[World War II]], the Karen sided with the [[British]], despite Burma siding with [[Japan]]. This led to the Burmese military punishing the Karen.<ref name="PT" />
Journalist Phil Thornton describes the Karen as a very ethical and not greedy people, with a long history of oral literature, respect for elders, and an unwillingness to take bribes. They have never taken their fight outside their own territory.<ref name="PT" />
== Bibliography ==
* [http://www.karen.org/main.htm Karen Website]
* Richardson, Don, ''Eternity in their Hearts'', 1984, pp. 73-108.
* Thornton, Phil, with Adams, Phillip, [http://www.abc.net.au/rn/latenightlive/stories/2007/2022830.htm The Karen Conflict and Life on the Thai-Burma Border], ''Late Night Live'', Australian Broadcasting Corporation, 3rd September, 2007. (Audio starts at 14:07 and finishes at 31:04).
== Notes ==
<references />
[[Category:Ethnic Groups]]
The Karen have been fighting for independence since 1949, making it the world's longest-running [[civil war]], yet "almost entirely unreported".<ref name="PT">Thornton</ref>
The population of the Karen people is officially 7,000,000, although the Karen people themselves claim it to be twice that.<ref name="KW">Karen Website</ref><ref name="PT" />
When the Karen were first visited by a European (a British diplomat) in 1795, the Karen were waiting for the fulfilment of a prophecy that they would one day be visited by a white man bringing with him a book, like they themselves lost long ago. This book was written by the Supreme God, Y'wa.<ref name="DR">Richardson</ref>
The Karen had resisted attempts by [[Buddhism|Buddhist]] monks to convert the people to Buddhism, but when [[Christianity|Christian]] missionaries arrived many years later, many Karen readily embraced Christianity,<ref name="DR" /> which now makes up at least 30% of the Karen population.<ref name="KW" /> [[Animism|Animists]] and Buddhists make up the rest.<ref name="KW" />
During [[World War II]], the Karen sided with the [[British]], despite Burma siding with [[Japan]]. This led to the Burmese military punishing the Karen.<ref name="PT" />
Journalist Phil Thornton describes the Karen as a very ethical and not greedy people, with a long history of oral literature, respect for elders, and an unwillingness to take bribes. They have never taken their fight outside their own territory.<ref name="PT" />
== Bibliography ==
* [http://www.karen.org/main.htm Karen Website]
* Richardson, Don, ''Eternity in their Hearts'', 1984, pp. 73-108.
* Thornton, Phil, with Adams, Phillip, [http://www.abc.net.au/rn/latenightlive/stories/2007/2022830.htm The Karen Conflict and Life on the Thai-Burma Border], ''Late Night Live'', Australian Broadcasting Corporation, 3rd September, 2007. (Audio starts at 14:07 and finishes at 31:04).
== Notes ==
<references />
[[Category:Ethnic Groups]]