"For over fifty years, the dictators of Burma have waged war against their own civilian population. The demonstrations of 2007 by mostly ethnic Burmans in the cities were put down brutally. The war against the ethnic peoples continues. It is a war backed by a military that has 400,000 soldiers and is supported by 50% of the nation?s budget. The Burma Army?s methodology is to conduct largescale offensives like the one described in this report, followed by consolidation of territory gained and expansion of control and then the launching of new attacks. There are more than one million displaced people. During these offensives, the Burma Army attacks and burns villages, rapes, tortures, and kills people, destroys their sources of livelihood, and lays landmines to prevent their return. The people support pro-democracy groups that attempt to resist the attacks and control of the Burma Army. Even under this great oppression, the people have not given up. While in hiding, they help each other set up schools, hold worship services, and organize to best make use of the resources they have. After the Burma Army leaves their village, they return to salvage what they can. This refusal to give up constitutes one of the greatest examples of civil disobedience of our time. This report outlines one offensive conducted by the Burma Army against the Karen people in northern Karen State, eastern Burma. It also provides an insight into other means by which the dictators attempt to control and exploit the population in the ethnic areas and provides an analysis of Burma Army strategy and tactics and how the ethnic resistance counters these. It describes the situation of the internally displaced people (IDPs) and makes recommendations for action. Finally, it tells the story of a people living on the edge of survival who have not given up and need help. Burma Army Ofe nsi ve: northern ka ren state The Burma Army?s most recent offensive in northern Karen State killed over 370 men, women and children and displaced over 30,000 people, most of whom are now in hiding, in two years of attacks that began in February of 2006 and continue through 2008. Over 33 new Burma Army camps were built in the areas of Papun, Nyaunglebin and Toungoo districts in 2006 alone, with over 103 new camps by March 2008. The slow but unrelenting attacks and building of new camps seem to be driven by a plan to dominate, chase out or crush any people in these areas. This was the largest offensive in Karen State since 1997. It began in February 2006, with troops from over fifty battalions attacking through the rainy season, and the construction of 10 new main camps and 42 smaller support camps. The Burma Army is now completing the construction of two new roads that effectively cut the northern Karen State into quarters. The disruption of their food production, burning of their homes and the shoot-on-sight orders of the Burma Army have made staying in their homeland untenable for thousands of people. Of the over 30,000 displaced, over 7,000 have already left their homes for the Thai border. Story: Na w Eh Ywa Paw The dictatorship of Burma has dehumanized the ethnic peoples of Burma, killing, raping and terrorizing the population with impunity. The power of the oppressor is unrestrained. Naw Eh Ywa Paw ("The Flower That Loves God") is a 9-year-old Karen girl who was shot during the offensive by the Burma Army in an attack that killed her father, Saw Maw Keh, and grandmother. This is her story. The attack itself took place on 27 March, 2006, as the people from Ka Ba Hta village were fleeing the advancing Burma Army, which had been sweeping the entire area. The villagers had been hiding in a gully, but, thinking that it would be safer to climb higher, had begun to leave the gully and climb to the top of the ridge. They did not know the Burma Army was waiting for them. Saw Maw Keh was carrying his mother up the steep slope and was in the lead of the group. Behind him was his family, including Naw Eh Ywa Paw. From where the Burma Army was waiting there is a clearing (it is the villagers? own rice field) that is about 40 yards wide and 15 yards deep down to the edge of the jungle above the gully. The Burma Army soldiers were waiting at the top of the ridge and looking down into this clearing towards the gully. Saw Maw Keh carried his mother up the ridge out 9 of the gully and into the clearing. The Burma Army soldiers waited until he and his mother were in the cleared area, about 10-15 yards away from their position behind the logs, and then opened fire. The shock of having a line of troops open fire at point-blank range must have been tremendous. Saw Maw Keh dropped his mother (we are not sure if she was shot off his back or fell). She cried out to him saying, "Don" As he turned to help her they both were shot dead. The others scattered and, as they tried to flee, Naw Eh Ywa Paw was shot through the back, with the bullet exiting near her stomach. We met them 13 days later on our way to their area and treated the wounded girl. Fortunately, the bullet had passed from her back out through her side without hitting any organs. During their escape, the girl?s wounds were treated by another family and due to their care there was no infection. We prayed for the girl and her family and they cried and cried for their father (husband), and grandmother. She eventually recovered and, with her mother, brother and sisters, moved to a new hiding place near their old village in Mon Township, Karen State. The Burma Army is now attacking the place where she and others are hiding, and so she is on the run again. The Burma Army needs to be stopped, and she, her family and the other Karen people need to be able to go home. This is an emergency situation and Naw Eh Ywa Paw and her people under attack need immediate protection, humanitarian assistance, and support for their pro-democracy organizations." (Updated, April 2004)