Rapid Fire
Myanmar’s Karen Ethnic Minority
- 24 Apr 2024
- 1 min read
Recently, Myanmar’s Karen ethnic minority asserted their proximity to capturing a significant Myawaddy trading town adjacent to the Thailand border.
- The Karen ethnic minority, indigenous to the Thailand-Burma border region in Southeast Asia, predominantly resides in the Karen State of Myanmar.
- Their origin is believed to have roots tracing back to the Gobi Desert in Mongolia.
- Myawaddy is Myanmar’s most active trading post with Thailand and its fall would have significant economic implications.
- The Karen National Union (KNU) is the political organisation representing the Karen people and has an armed wing, the Karen National Liberation Army.
- The conflict in Myanmar began after the army ousted the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi in 2021 and suppressed widespread nonviolent protests.
- Myawaddyy is a trading town in Myanmar that connects with Mae Sot in Thailand. These are the endpoints of the India- Myanmar- Trilateral Highway.
