Karen people
The Karen (/kəˈrɛn/ ⓘ kə-REN), also known as the Kayin, Kariang or Kawthoolese, are an ethnolinguistic group of Sino-Tibetan language-speaking peoples. The group as a whole is heterogeneous and disparate as many Karen ethnic groups do not associate or identify with each other culturally or linguistically. These Karen groups reside primarily in Kayin State, southern and southeastern Myanmar. The Karen account for around seven percent of the Burmese population. Many Karen have migrated to Thailand, having settled mostly on the Myanmar–Thailand border. A few Karen have settled in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, India, and other Southeast Asian and East Asian countries.
The flag of the Karen National Union is commonly used to represent the Karen people. | |
Karen woman in traditional attire, 1912 | |
| Regions with significant populations | |
|---|---|
| Myanmar | 3,604,000 |
| Thailand | 350,000 |
| United States | 215,000 |
| Australia | 11,000 |
| Canada | 6,050 |
| India (Andaman Islands) | 2,500 |
| Sweden | 1,500 |
| Languages | |
| Karen languages, including S'gaw Karen, Pwo Karen, Karenni and Pa'O | |
| Religion | |
| Theravada Buddhism, Christianity, Karen folk religion | |
The Karen groups as a whole are often confused with the Padaung tribe, best known for the neck rings worn by their women, but they are just one sub-group of Red Karens (Karenni), one of the tribes of Kayah in Kayah State, Myanmar.
Karen insurgent groups, led primarily by the Karen National Union (KNU), have waged war against the Burmese government since early 1949. The original aim of the KNU was to create an independent Karen homeland called Kawthoolei, but since 1976 they have shifted towards calling for a federal system in Myanmar instead. Even so, the KNU has declined invitations to speak with the Burmese government.