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Richard Humpheries (Black and White) Jason Miller Shwe Koako, Karen State Sylvia Murcfeld Photographs Jean de La Tour Richard Humphries _______________ Version Date June 2004 12/01/2005 Website: Designed, Built and written by Paul Keenan |
1980's - Victory Field And a Democratic Alliance
Throughout the eighties the Karen continued to rule Kawthoolei from its headquarters at Manerplaw which also housed the head office of the National Democratic Front In October 1984 the NDF held its third plenary presidium and in a change of separatist policy it called not for each nationality to have its own state, rather that a Federal Union, comprising all nationalities including Burman, be established. The KNU continued to finance the revolution by taxation both through its trade gates and villages under its protection. Contact was made throughout its territory via radio due to the distance covered from one brigade to another. Often the further a brigade from Manerplaw; the less influence the HQ was able to exert, with brigade commanders often taking responsibility for their areas own wellbeing. Throughout the villages under its control the KNU established schools, clinics and administrative systems. The schools taught in S'gaw and Pwo Karen as the main languages as opposed to those schools under BSPP control where ethnic languages were expressly forbidden and students were forced to study Burmese. Committees on health, agriculture, and education were established to administer to the needs of the villagers and townspeople. The village and township committees were then organized under a district committee whose main responsibility was to liaise with the KNU. Security was provided by local Karen National Defence Organisations (KNDO's) who were usually villagers. Most of the KNU central committee, in contrast to the predominantly Buddhist lower ranks, were strong Baptists and a number of churches could be found throughout Karen controlled areas. The Sabbath was always celebrated and Christian tenants formed a major part of the judicial system, often with zealous Old Testament morality. Strict prohibitions were enforced regarding the use of Alcohol and drugs, and even to this day pre-marital sex and adultery are social taboos that can still bring heavy consequences for the offenders.
Despite the strong Christian overtones of the Karen movement, freedom of religion is guaranteed and it was not uncommon to find an equal amount of Buddhist temples, mosques and animist shrines throughout Kawthoolei.
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