The Karen or Kayin people, refer to a number of Sino-Tibetan
language speaking ethnic groups which reside primarily in southern and
southeastern Burma. The Karen make up approximately 7 percent of the total
Burmese population of approximately 50 million people. A large number of Karen
also reside in Thailand, mostly on the Thai–Burmese border. The Karen are often
confused with the Red Karen. The subgroup of the Karenni, the Padaung tribe
from the border region of Burma and Thailand, are best known for the neck rings
worn by the women of this group of people. Some of the Karen, led primarily by
the Karen National Union, have waged a war against the central Burmese government
since early 1949. The aim of the KNU at first was independence. Since 1976 the
armed group has called for a federal system rather than an independent Karen
State.
