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English: The situation of Karenni is far from having improved markedly since the conclusion of ceasefires in 1994 and 1995. As much as a third of the population in the state of Kayah has been displaced since 1996, especially after the breakdown of the ceasefire with the KNPP, with an estimated 20,000 of them fleeing to Thailand. There are some reports suggesting that more than 2,500 villages have been destroyed or their inhabitants forced to relocate by the Burmese military regime.

These displacements, and the presence of large numbers of Burmese military – with the accompanying claims of forced labour, land confiscation without compensation, involuntary relocation, torture, arbitrary executions, sexual violence and other violations of the rights of Karenni – have all contributed to the dire state of the small population of Kayah State: malnutrition, poor health and lack of education opportunities are more prevalent here than in most other parts of the country.

The development opportunities that were hoped for after 1995 have not overall helped most Karenni. On the contrary, benefits from the mineral reserves in the state’s south, or logging, have by and large bypassed them. Logging of teak and other timbers is often either done illegally, or permitted by Burmese authorities in complete disregard of any pre-existing land or usage rights of the indigenous Karenni, and the same goes for most mining activities. This had led to serious environmental degradation and deforestation, seriously hampering many of the Karenni’s traditional agricultural and economic activities.

The 2005 agreement with Thailand for the construction of a series of electricity-generating dams on the Salween River, with construction slated to begin sometime in late 2007, follows the same pattern. An estimated 640 sq. km of land, including some of Kayah State’s prime farming land, will be submerged, and as many as 30,000 people relocated or affected, including all of the population of one minority group, the Yintalai. There is little likelihood that these people will receive proper compensation for the loss of their land or livelihood. One town that will be completely submerged is the historical Karenni capital, Bawlake. In return for the destruction of their agricultural land, grazing areas, forests, fish breeding and spawning sites, the disenfranchised Karenni will not even enjoy the benefits of the electricity produced, since the generated power is destined for the Thai (and possibly Chinese) domestic markets.

There have been offensives since 2002 by the Burmese military, ostensibly to clear out villagers in the Karenni–Karen border areas and relocate them in areas under military control. In addition to the destruction of property, violence and other human rights violations committed by the military on Karenni and Karen, it appears that there may also be a State Peace and Development Council (SPDC) strategy to control some of the region’s valuable natural resources – not least linked to the construction of dams on the Salween.

- See more at: http://www.minorityrights.org/4495/myanmarburma/karenni.html#sthash.RoqnWov1.dpuf