Transterra Media

The World's Longest-Running Civil War

Collection with 19 media items created by vincenzo floramo

Myanmar 30 Jan 2015 09:48

Photos by Vincenzo Floramo

Text by Portia Larlee

Thick fog lifted at the break of dawn January 31 to reveal rows of troops at the Karen National Liberation Army headquarters on the Thai-Myanmar border. It was Karen Revolution Day and hundreds of onlookers from Karen villages and refugee camps border-wide had gathered to commemorate Britain's departure from Burma in 1948 and the subsequent civil war between Karen and government forces. Decades later Karen, young and old, are driven by the fierce nationalism of generations past in the push for political autonomy. The event was an excellent starting point from which to discuss what a post-ceasefire Myanmar might look like. The peace process continues, with a seventh round of ceasefire talks set for the coming months. Karen leaders, including Karen National Union chairman Mutu Say Poe addressed troops at the KNLA headquarters, urging a nationwide ceasefire – and eventually a "federal army." Discussion of “security reform” was missing from the day's speeches, largely because the future of Myanmar's ethnic minority armies following a nationwide ceasefire remains unclear. What will become of Myanmar's freedom fighters?

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Myanmar Thailand Burma Karen Karen Minority Revolution Day Insurgency Civil War Uprising Memorial Conflict Politics Military Knla Mutu Say Poe Fighters Reform Villages 1948 Borders

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Mae Sot, Thailand

By vincenzo floramo

Local villagers and a soldier watching a night theatre show during the Karen National Liberation Army 66th revolution anniversary.

On Karen Revolution Day at the 7th Brigade headquarters hundreds of onlookers from Karen villages and refugee camps border-wide had gathered to commemorate Britain's departure from Burma in 1948 and the subsequent civil war between Karen and government forces, considered among the longest civil wars in history.

Mae Sot, Thailand

By vincenzo floramo

Armed soldiers flock all around the stage watching a night show during the Karen National Liberation Army 66th revolution anniversary.

On Karen Revolution Day at the 7th Brigade headquarters hundreds of onlookers from Karen villages and refugee camps border-wide had gathered to commemorate Britain's departure from Burma in 1948 and the subsequent civil war between Karen and government forces, considered among the longest civil wars in history.

Mae Sot, Thailand

By vincenzo floramo

Family with their children come from the nerdy villages and borders refugees camps to assist at the Karen National Liberation Army 66th revolution anniversary.

On Karen Revolution Day at the 7th Brigade headquarters hundreds of onlookers from Karen villages and refugee camps border-wide had gathered to commemorate Britain's departure from Burma in 1948 and the subsequent civil war between Karen and government forces, considered among the longest civil wars in history.

Mae Sot, Thailand

By vincenzo floramo

Dancers preforming a show at the Karen National Liberation Army 66th revolution anniversary.

On Karen Revolution Day at the 7th Brigade headquarters hundreds of onlookers from Karen villages and refugee camps border-wide had gathered to commemorate Britain's departure from Burma in 1948 and the subsequent civil war between Karen and government forces, considered among the longest civil wars in history.

Mae Sot, Thailand

By vincenzo floramo

Traditional Burmese and Karen dance were performed at the Karen National Liberation Army 66th revolution anniversary.

On Karen Revolution Day at the 7th Brigade headquarters hundreds of onlookers from Karen villages and refugee camps border-wide had gathered to commemorate Britain's departure from Burma in 1948 and the subsequent civil war between Karen and government forces, considered among the longest civil wars in history.

Mae Sot, Thailand

By vincenzo floramo

Soldiers of the Karen Revolution Army preparing the flags for the imminent parade for the KNLA 66th revolution anniversary.

On Karen Revolution Day at the 7th Brigade headquarters hundreds of onlookers from Karen villages and refugee camps border-wide had gathered to commemorate Britain's departure from Burma in 1948 and the subsequent civil war between Karen and government forces, considered among the longest civil wars in history.

Mae Sot, Thailand

By vincenzo floramo

Soldiers marching on the main square on the Karen National Liberation Army 66th revolution anniversary.

On Karen Revolution Day at the 7th Brigade headquarters hundreds of onlookers from Karen villages and refugee camps border-wide had gathered to commemorate Britain's departure from Burma in 1948 and the subsequent civil war between Karen and government forces, considered among the longest civil wars in history.

Mae Sot, Thailand

By vincenzo floramo

KNLA soldier forming the lines during the Karen National Liberation Army 66th revolution anniversary.

On Karen Revolution Day at the 7th Brigade headquarters hundreds of onlookers from Karen villages and refugee camps border-wide had gathered to commemorate Britain's departure from Burma in 1948 and the subsequent civil war between Karen and government forces, considered among the longest civil wars in history.

Mae Sot, Thailand

By vincenzo floramo

KNLA Major General Saw Johnny at the flag rising during the Karen National Liberation Army 66th revolution anniversary.

On Karen Revolution Day at the 7th Brigade headquarters hundreds of onlookers from Karen villages and refugee camps border-wide had gathered to commemorate Britain's departure from Burma in 1948 and the subsequent civil war between Karen and government forces, considered among the longest civil wars in history.

Mae Sot, Thailand

By vincenzo floramo

Karen National Union chairman General Saw Mutu Say Poe during his speech at the Karen National Liberation Army 66th revolution anniversary.

On Karen Revolution Day at the 7th Brigade headquarters hundreds of onlookers from Karen villages and refugee camps border-wide had gathered to commemorate Britain's departure from Burma in 1948 and the subsequent civil war between Karen and government forces, considered among the longest civil wars in history.

Title photo for the collection

Mae Sot, Thailand

By vincenzo floramo

KNLA soldiers stand during the flag rising at the Karen National Liberation Army 66th revolution anniversary.

On Karen Revolution Day at the 7th Brigade headquarters hundreds of onlookers from Karen villages and refugee camps border-wide had gathered to commemorate Britain's departure from Burma in 1948 and the subsequent civil war between Karen and government forces, considered among the longest civil wars in history.

Mae Sot, Thailand

By vincenzo floramo

KNLA Major General Saw Johnny reviewing the soldiers at the Karen National Liberation Army 66th revolution anniversary.

On Karen Revolution Day at the 7th Brigade headquarters hundreds of onlookers from Karen villages and refugee camps border-wide had gathered to commemorate Britain's departure from Burma in 1948 and the subsequent civil war between Karen and government forces, considered among the longest civil wars in history.

Mae Sot, Thailand

By vincenzo floramo

KNLA soldiers on the at the Karen National Liberation Army 66th revolution anniversary.

In 1994, a group of Buddhist soldiers in the KNLA, citing discrimination by the KNU's overwhelmingly Christian leadership against the Buddhist Karen majority, broke away and established the Democratic Karen Buddhist Army (DKBA).

Mae Sot, Thailand

By vincenzo floramo

DKBA soldiers assist at the KNLA ceremony out of the lines at the Karen National Liberation Army 66th revolution anniversary. The two insurgents groups they are holding talk to sign all toughener an agreement with the Burmese central government.

On Karen Revolution Day at the 7th Brigade headquarters hundreds of onlookers from Karen villages and refugee camps border-wide had gathered to commemorate Britain's departure from Burma in 1948 and the subsequent civil war between Karen and government forces, considered among the longest civil wars in history.

Mae Sot, Thailand

By vincenzo floramo

KNLA soldiers marching out of the main campground at the end of the parade on the Karen National Liberation Army 66th revolution anniversary.

On Karen Revolution Day at the 7th Brigade headquarters hundreds of onlookers from Karen villages and refugee camps border-wide had gathered to commemorate Britain's departure from Burma in 1948 and the subsequent civil war between Karen and government forces, considered among the longest civil wars in history.

Mae Sot, Thailand

By vincenzo floramo

KNLA soldiers march holding the Karen state and KNLA flags during the parade on the Karen National Liberation Army 66th revolution anniversary.

On Karen Revolution Day at the 7th Brigade headquarters hundreds of onlookers from Karen villages and refugee camps border-wide had gathered to commemorate Britain's departure from Burma in 1948 and the subsequent civil war between Karen and government forces, considered among the longest civil wars in history.

Mae Sot, Thailand

By vincenzo floramo

Soldiers of the KNLA are let free after the two hours parade for the Karen National Liberation Army 66th revolution anniversary.

On Karen Revolution Day at the 7th Brigade headquarters hundreds of onlookers from Karen villages and refugee camps border-wide had gathered to commemorate Britain's departure from Burma in 1948 and the subsequent civil war between Karen and government forces, considered among the longest civil wars in history.

Mae Sot, Thailand

By vincenzo floramo

Traditional Karen dance are performed on the main campground for the Karen National Liberation Army 66th revolution anniversary.

On Karen Revolution Day at the 7th Brigade headquarters hundreds of onlookers from Karen villages and refugee camps border-wide had gathered to commemorate Britain's departure from Burma in 1948 and the subsequent civil war between Karen and government forces, considered among the longest civil wars in history.

Mae Sot, Thailand

By vincenzo floramo

A little child wearing a T-shirt with a Karen flags running around the weapons KNLA soldiers left out of the food barrack.

On Karen Revolution Day at the 7th Brigade headquarters hundreds of onlookers from Karen villages and refugee camps border-wide had gathered to commemorate Britain's departure from Burma in 1948 and the subsequent civil war between Karen and government forces, considered among the longest civil wars in history.