I

Images from Karen State

Richard Humpheries

Traditional Dancing

(Black and White)

Jason Miller

Karen New Year 2003

 Shwe Koako, Karen State

Sylvia Murcfeld

Karen State

Photographs

 Jean de La Tour

Manerplaw

Richard Humphries

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Version Date

June 2004

12/01/2005

Website: Designed, Built and written  by Paul Keenan

Buddhism

Buddhism is the predominant religion in Burma with 85% of the population classed as Buddhist[1] however it is extremely likely that Karen figures (most Pwo Karens are usually classed as Buddhist probably due to the Mon introducing the religion to them) are likely to merge with those of animists with a very thin line being drawn between the two. Whilst very few figures are available regarding the percentage of Karen Buddhists in Burma, a recent education survey conducted in refugee camps on the border shows that out of the refugee population taking part 28% are Buddhists in comparison with 65% of the population being Christian[2].

Census figures from 1901 put the total Karen population at 727,235 of this the Pwo Karen represented 174,070 with S’gaw (most likely Christian) at 86,434 the total figure included the Bghai at 4,936 with a large proportion of the figure 457,355 being returned as unspecified.

Current SIL figures put the predominantly Christian S’gaw Karen with a higher population rate than the Buddhist Pwo with many of the animists and Buddhists being converted by mainly Baptist missionaries in the early 18^th century. Whether a true classification of Buddhist as opposed to Buddhist-Animist exists is hard to say.

Whilst religious conflict is often stated as being a major factor in the split in the Christian dominated Karen National Union, in December 1994, with the formation of the Democratic Karen Buddhist Organisation (and armed wing the DKBA) it is probably unfair to place the blame solely on religious differences, rather than inequality between the ethnic Pwo and S’gaw races.

It is still believed that if you are Christian the possibility for advancement is disproportionately higher than if you are Buddhist and Buddhists are often encouraged to convert with the premise offered that they will be given more opportunities in relation to education[3] and status.