ABOUT THE KAREN STATE
The Karen State is a long, narrow region in southeastern Myanmar (a k a Burma). The pronunciation is kuh-REN. The Karen population is estimated at 5 million, or 7 percent of Mynmar's population.
There has been unrest and fighting in the country since Burma gained independence from Great Britain after World War II. A military junta took control in 1962 and there was ongoing war waged against the Karen and in other regions.
The Karen became refugees by scores of thousands, living for decades in camps in their state and across the border in Thailand.
Burmese and specifically Karen have immigrated in recent years to Minnesota, with a sizable population in St. Paul.
PATRICK REUSSE
