Originally published as ‘The Karens and their Struggle For Freedom? in 1991 by the Karen National Union Reprinted under the same title by the KNU in July 1992, 18 pages, and in 1997 to include Peace talks in 1996/7, 42 pages. This version reprinted and updated with a new foreword, Chronology, colour illustrations, and images in 2006 by the Karen History and Culture Preservation Society...PREFACE (To the original Edition): "We, the Karens of Burma, have been cornered into fighting against the ruling Burmese Governments for the past fifty years. Holding the reins of all organs of the state, and in full control of the press radio, and television, the successive ruling Burmese Governments from U Nu?s AFPFL (Anti-Fascist People?s Freedom League) to the present Military Junta headed by General Than Shwe and his State Peace and Development Council ( SPDC ), have always painted us as black as they can. They have branded us insurgents, war-mongers, a handful of border smugglers, black-and stooges of both the communists and the imperialists. Even so, to the extent of our ability we have always tried to refute the nefarious one-sided Burman propaganda of false accusations and make the true facts of our cause known to the world. In fighting against the ruling Burmese Government, we are not being motivate by narrow nationalism, nor by ill-will towards the Burmese Government or the Burman people. Our struggle was not instigated neither by the capitalist world nor by the communists, as some have falsely accused us. It has an originality completely of its own. Throughout history, the Burman have been practicing annihilation, absorption and assimilation ( 3 A?s) against the Karens and they are still doing so today. In short, they are waging a genocidal war against us. Thus we have been forced to fight for our very existence and survival. In this document we venture to present a concise outline of the Karens? struggle for freedom; the Karen case, which we consider just, righteous and noble. We hope that through it, the world may come to know the true situation of the Karens, a forgotten people who continue to fight for our freedom intensively, single handedly and without aid of any kind from anyone..."