Democratic Karen Buddhist Army (DKBA) -- Rival

The Kayin National Union (KNU) is Burma's largest and longest-lasting insurgent group. The KNU, has been fighting for an independent homeland for the Kayin (also translated as Karen) people for over 20 years. The Karen, who sided with the British during World War II, grew to develop a sense of betrayal as the British allowed the Burmese to govern the territory the Karen inhabit, systematically punishing and disenfranchising the Karen people. Many Karen live in refugee camps across the border in Thailand, but even these camps have been the target of attacks by the Burmese military. Human rights groups have accused the Burmese government of pursuing policies of "ethnic cleansing" against the Karen and other minorities in the eastern part of the country. <P><br />A group calling itself the Democratic Kayin Buddhist Organization (DKBO) split off from the KNU in 1995. The DKBO, reportedly funded by the Burmese government, attacked and destroyed much of the KNU's headquarters along the Burma-Thailand border in 1995. Government sources claim, however, that the DKBO split off because of actions that the KNU had taken against the followers of the Buddhist monk of Myaingyi Ngu village.

As of early 2004, the KNU was estimated to have approximately 5,000 fighters.  Actions against the Burmese military have largely come in the form of hit-and-run attacks, but government sources also accuse the group of attacking civilian targets such as movie theatres.  <br /><p><br />Although there has been a long process of peace negotiations between the Burmese government and various other ethnic minority groups, the KNU has not officially made peace with the government in Rangoon. Certain members and local factions of the group, however, have traded in their arms in "weapons-for-peace" exchanges.  Government sources claim that the KNU has "no genuine desire for peace" and that "their main concern is the survival of their organization with assistance from western bloc nations."<br />