KNOW THE KAREN - THAILAND CULTURE CULTURE

History
Karen speaking Karen, still in Sino-Tibetan language groups, are ethnic groups in
southern and southeast Burma (Myanmar). Karen people make up around 7 percent of
the total population of about 50 million Burmese. A large number of Karen are also in
Thailand, especially on the Thailand-Burma border. The Karen tribe itself is often
confused with the Karen Red (or Karenni) tribe. One subgroup of Karen, the Padaung
tribe from the border region of Burma and Thailand, is famous for the neck rings worn
by women. The legend of Karen refers to the 'river running sand' which is said to be the
way their ancestors crossed. Many Karen think this refers to the Gobi Desert, even
though they have lived in Burma for centuries. The Karen are the largest ethnic
population in Burma after Bamars and Shans. The Karen tribe lives in a 400 m hilly
area, up to a mountain of altitude above 800 m above sea level.

Wasted Tribes

Most Karen tribes live in hilly areas bordering the eastern region and the Irrawaddy
delta of Myanmar, especially in the Kayin area, with several in Kayah Negara, southern
Shan State, Ayeyarwady Region, Tanintharyi Region, and in western Thailand.

The last census in Burma was carried out in 1931. A 2006 VOA article estimated the
Karen population as many as seven million in Burma. In Thailand there are 400,000
people, of which they are the largest of the other hill tribes.

The Karen and other tribes in Maehongson are isolated tribes from the interior of
Myanmar. They are mountain tribes that live in the forests around the
Thailand-Myanmar border. The original villages were in remote parts of Myanmar, as
well as the provinces of Chiang Rai, Mae Hong Son and Chiang Mai (sometimes
moving).

In 1949 a civil war raged which forced them to flee. Karen National Union and other
guerrilla groups of minority tribes fought against the Mynmar government. Since the
80s, the military of Mynmar has succeeded in expelling residents from 3,000 Karen
villages. The tribes climbed the mountain over the border and lived in Maehongson
Province.

This wasted tribe lives like an IDP refugee in Thailand. According to a 2008 UNESCO
report, nearly two million mountain tribes living in Thailand did not have identity
cards. It is said, almost 70 percent of them cannot get basic education like other Thai
children, and 98 percent cannot get higher education.
The Community Leaning Center (CLC) in Mae Hong Son tries to overcome this
problem by helping around 30 mountain tribe children get access to higher education.

The division of the Karen tribe

· Karen Red (Red Karen) / (Kayah)
Karen Merah (Karenni) consists of the following groups: Kayah, Geko (Kayan Ka
Khaung, Gekho, Gaykho), Geba (Kayan Gebar, Gaybar), Padaung (Kayan Lahwi),
Bres, Manu-Manaus (Manumanao), Yintale, Yinbaw, BWE, Paku, Shan and Pao.
Several groups (Geko, Gebar, Padaung). belongs to Kayan, a subgroup of Red Karen.
· Karen S'gaw
Karen is the largest and most widespread group. Many live in Yangon, Bago (Taungoo
district and Tharyarwaddy district), Mandalay (Pyin Oo Lwin and Kalaw), Tanintharyi
(Myeik and Dawei), Ayeyarwaddy (Hintharda district), East Karen (Thanton), Kayah
Negara (Mawchi) and Thailand (Chiang Mai). Language Karen S'gaw is a common
language for most Karen people. In Karen's terms, Karen S'gaw is called Htee Bar.
· Karen Pwo
Karen Pwo Timur lives in the western part of Thailand and the Kayin area, Myanmar;
Karen Pwo Barat lives in Irrawaddy, Burma. In Karen's terms, Karen Pwo is called Mo
Htee.
· Karen White
Most of Karen White lives near Pyinmana, Mandalay. In Karen's terms, Karen White is
called Ka Nyaw Wah.
· Karen Paku
Karen Paku lives in Taungoo, Bago, Kayah Negara, Mawchi and east Kayin,
Thandong. The Karen Paku person speaks the same language as Karen S'gaw.

In Maehongson Province, north of the city of Bangkok, Thailand, there live a number of
mountain tribes from Burma or Myanmar. Among them are the Akha, the Karen, the
Lisu Tribe and so on. They are a tribal community that has a unique historical and
cultural background.

Purpose and function

But among the tribes, the Karen tribe is considered the most unique. On the necks of the
Karen tribes a golden metal bracelet was installed. These bracelets function to form
their necks and legs so that they are longer, because according to their customs, the
longer the woman's neck, the more beautiful they will be.

What is even more unique is the reason they wear these bracelets against the
background of culture from generation to generation and the belief that Karen women
are from a Phoenix bird. For the Karen tribe, a phoenix is a female ancestor who pairs
with dragons that are considered the ancestors of the tribal men.

The weight of an iron bracelet on an adult woman's neck reaches 5 kg and an ankle
under the knee weighs 1 kg each. Means that every day they carry a load of 7 kg. The
bracelet has been worn since they were 5 years old. Initially only 2-3 stacks of
bracelets, and every 2-3 years a pile of bracelets was added until they reached the age of
19 years where the bracelets were replaced with iron bracelets made of 1 long spiked
iron that was coiled / wrapped around their necks. The bracelet can be removed but the
release process itself is not easy and is only done at the time of marriage, childbirth and
death.

The weight of the bracelets pushes the collarbone, shoulder bones and ribs down. So
that the necks of women are automatically elongated. The longer, they feel increasingly
similar to the Phoenix Bird of their ancestors.

Another function of the bracelets is as a protector. In the past when they were still in the
mountains, they were often involved in contact with wild animals such as tigers, bears
and so on. Generally, wild animals attack humans in the neck and throat. For this
reason, the rings served as a protector for the Karen tribe. But the uniqueness of the
Karen tribe is not at risk. Women in this tribe mostly live to the age of 45-50 years.
Reportedly because the weight of the bracelet that reaches 7 kg, is believed to have
damaged the neck bones as they age.
Some say the rings would offer protection from tiger attacks often aiming right for the
neck, others speculate it would keep rival tribes from abducting the women by
lessening their beauty. Most likely would be the opposite, the sheer beauty and pride in
putting emphasis on the womens’ necks, giving the Kayan a divine grace. However it
may be, many tourists travel to their villages in North Thailand every year to see the so
called ‘giraffe women’, to behold this fascinating esthetic. Therefor, the tradition is a
great source of income for local governments and an opportunity for the women to sell
their artisan crafts to visitors. But many of the Kayan men and women are not allowed
to leave these artificial villages or the area without a Thai ID card and as they are
Burmese refugees, they can not apply for one to build up a future elsewhere. Without
legal citizenship, they even have limited access to water, electricity, infrastructure,
health care and education. The local schools do not offer education above 6th grade and
without an ID card, the Kayan people do not have the right to health insurance, which
means a visit to the hospital is not affordable for the small wages they make selling
handicrafts to tourists.