A KNLA medic treats IDPs in Hpapun District, Kayin State.
Date
31 January 1949 – present (75 years, 3 months and 4 days)
Location
Kayin State, Myanmar (primarily)
Status
Ongoing
Ceasefires signed between the Karen National Union and the government of Myanmar in 2012 and 2015
Belligerents
Myanmar
Tatmadaw
Myanmar Army
Southeastern Command
Former:
Union of Burma (1948–1962)
Socialist Republic of the Union of Burma (1962–1988)
Union of Myanmar (1988–2011)
Democratic Karen Buddhist Army (1994–2010)
Karen National Union
Karen National Defence Organisation
Karen National Liberation Army
DKBA-5
KNU/KNLA Peace Council
All Burma Students' Democratic Front (1988–2015)
Arakan Army (Kayin)
Arakan Liberation Army
God's Army
Commanders and leaders
Min Aung Hlaing
Soe Win
Mya Tun Oo
Former:
Sao Shwe Thaik (1948–1952)
U Nu (1948–1962)
Ba U (1952–1957)
Win Maung (1957–1962)
Ne Win (1962–1988)
San Yu (1981–1988)
Saw Maung (1988–1992)
Than Shwe (1992–2011)
U Thuzana (1994–2010)
Wai Lwin (2011–2015)
Thein Sein (2011–2016)
Sein Win (2015–2021)
Htin Kyaw (2016–2018)
Aung San Suu Kyi (2016–2021)
Win Myint (2018–2021)
Saw Mutu Say Poe (since 2008)
Saw Tamlabaw (2000–2008)
Bo Mya (1976–2000)
Saw Ba U Gyi † (1949–1950)
Saw Mo Shay[1]
Bo Nat Khann Mway (1994–2016)
Strength
43,000 (1951)[citation needed]
30,000
4,000+ (1951)[citation needed]
6,000–7,000[2] 1,500[3]
Casualties and losses
Since 1989: 4,600+ killed[4][5] 200,000 civilians displaced[6][7]
v
t
e
Myanmar conflict
Armed conflicts
Communist (1948–1988)
China–Myanmar border (1960–1961)
Kachin
Karen
Karen–Mon
Kokang
2009
2015
Rohingya
1978
1991–1992
2016–present
Shan
post-2021 coup
2023
Bombings and attacks
1947
1983
1999
2003
2005
2010
2013
2018
Coup d'états
1962
1988
2021
Protests
1962
1974
1988
2007–2008
2021–present
Anti-Muslim violence
2012
2013
2015
2016–present
Related topics
ceasefires
combatants
ethnic armed organisations
Myanmar portal
The Karen conflict is an armed conflict in Kayin State, Myanmar (formerly known as Karen State, Burma). It is part of the wider internal conflict in Myanmar between the military government and various minority groups. Karen nationalists have been fighting for an independent state, known as Kawthoolei, since 1949.[8] The Karen National Union (KNU) and its Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA) are the most prominent Karen rebel groups.[9] Hundreds of thousands of civilians have been displaced by the conflict, many of whom fled to neighbouring Thailand and survive in refugee camps.[6][7]
Tensions between the Karen people and the Bamar ethnic majority in Myanmar have existed since colonial-era based on the British 'direct and indirect rule' policy and Karen soldiers' roles in putting down Burmese rebellions in the late 19th century.[10] Around the time of Burmese independence, the Karen National Defence Organisation (KNDO) was formed as an armed wing of the Karen National Union (KNU) to put down a communist rebellion. After the Burmese government settled for peace and allowed communist back into national politics, a series of tensions, escalations and battles led to the KNU declaring formally war on the Burmese government on 31 January 1949.[11]
^"DKBA appoints new Commander-in-Chief". Mizzima. 22 April 2016. Archived from the original on 8 January 2018. Retrieved 8 January 2018.
^"Briefing Paper No. 1" (PDF). Burma center for Ethnic Studies. January 2012. Archived from the original (PDF) on 3 March 2016.
^"Myanmar Peace Monitor: Stakeholders – DKBA-5". Archived from the original on 17 November 2015. Retrieved 13 November 2015.
^"UCDP – Uppsala Conflict Data Program". ucdp.uu.s. Archived from the original on 8 March 2021. Retrieved 6 November 2023.
^"UCDP – Uppsala Conflict Data Program". ucdp.uu.se. Archived from the original on 9 March 2021. Retrieved 6 November 2023.
^ abSouth 2011, p. 10.
^ abWorland 2010, p. 23.
^South 2011, p. 6.
^Pattisson, Pete (16 January 2007). "On the run with the Karen people forced to flee Burma's genocide". The Independent. Archived from the original on 20 April 2019. Retrieved 20 April 2019.
^Aung-Thwin & Aung-Thwin 2013, p. 180, 182 and 191.
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of the Karen people of Myanmar (formerly Burma). The KNLA has been fighting the Burmese government since 1960s as part of the Karenconflict, which has...
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Kawthoolei Karen Human Rights Group Democratic Karen Buddhist Army Karen National Union Karen National Liberation Army Karenconflict (Armed conflict) Census...
2016. Retrieved 15 October 2017. Sandford, Steve (31 May 2018). "Conflict Resumes in Karen State After Myanmar Army Returns". Voice of America. Archived...
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a protracted battle between the Tatmadaw (Myanmar Armed Forces) and the Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA). Before 1994, the Tatmadaw was unable to...