The Karens have suffered the most under the rule of the Burmese military junta, especially in 2007. The sufferings, persecution, killings and torture of ethnic Karens of Burma, who are struggling for self-determination, has been the highest, an armed Karen rebel group said today.
The Karen National Union, the major armed group of the Karens, in its New Years Day statement said, the Burmese Army, with 187 battalions, had launched one of the worst campaigns against them in 2007.
With the Burmese Army in cooperation with the Democratic Karen Buddhist Army, a ceasefire armed Karen rebel group, launching at least 1,391 attacks on the KNU, the Karen's miseries and sufferings have been the worse throughout 2007, the KNU said in its statement.
Since 2007 monsoon, sporadic clashes broke out between the KNU and Burmese Army battalions in eastern and central Karen states. The DKBA, allied with the Burmese Army, also joined the attack against the KNU, accelerating clashes that further displaced local villagers.
Celebrating the 2747th New Years Day, according to the Karen calendar, the KNU called on all Karens to unite for a common cause.
Pado Saw Ba Thin, chairman of the KNU, in his speech at the New Year celebration said, "Avoid all actions that would hamper the unity of our people. Unity is the only way to freedom."
The Karen National Union , one of the longest operating insurgents in Southeast Asia, was founded on February 5, 1947 with the aim of fighting for self-determination of the Karen people.
While a large number of Karens residing in Thailand annually conducting huge celebrations welcoming the New Year, this year's celebrations were quieter due to the death of the sister of the King of Thailand.
