Description:
Originally published as The Karens and their Struggle For
Freedom? in 1991 by the Karen National Union
Reprinted under the same title by the KNU in July 1992, 18 pages,
and in 1997 to include Peace talks in 1996/7, 42 pages.
This version reprinted and updated with a new foreword,
Chronology, colour illustrations, and images in 2006 by the Karen
History and Culture Preservation Society...PREFACE (To the original Edition):
"We, the Karens of Burma, have been cornered into
fighting against the ruling Burmese Governments
for the past fifty years.
Holding the reins of all organs of the state, and in
full control of the press radio, and television, the
successive ruling Burmese Governments from U
Nu?s AFPFL (Anti-Fascist People?s Freedom League)
to the present Military Junta headed by General
Than Shwe and his State Peace and Development
Council ( SPDC ), have always painted us as black
as they can. They have branded us insurgents, war-mongers, a handful of border smugglers, black-and stooges of both the communists and
the imperialists.
Even so, to the extent of our ability we have always
tried to refute the nefarious one-sided Burman
propaganda of false accusations and make the true
facts of our cause known to the world.
In fighting against the ruling Burmese Government,
we are not being motivate by narrow nationalism,
nor by ill-will towards the Burmese Government or
the Burman people. Our struggle was not instigated
neither by the capitalist world nor by the communists,
as some have falsely accused us. It has an originality
completely of its own. Throughout history, the
Burman have been practicing annihilation, absorption
and assimilation ( 3 A?s) against the Karens and they
are still doing so today. In short, they are waging a
genocidal war against us. Thus we have been forced
to fight for our very existence and survival.
In this document we venture to present a concise
outline of the Karens? struggle for freedom; the
Karen case, which we consider just, righteous and
noble. We hope that through it, the world may come
to know the true situation of the Karens, a forgotten
people who continue to fight for our freedom
intensively, single handedly and without aid of any
kind from anyone..."
Source/publisher:
Karen History and Culture Preservation Society (KHCPS)
Date of Publication:
2006-08-00
Date of entry:
2006-08-22
Grouping:
- Individual Documents
Category:
Language:
English
Local URL:
Format:
pdf
Size:
1.48 MB