This report is based on direct testimony provided through interviews with 40 villagers between February 16 and March 28, 2015. The villagers come from four villages in Karenni State: MarkrawShe, HsolyarKu, Daw HsoShay and Daw MuKlah. Interviews were conducted in the Karenni language and in the Burmese language by two graduates of the Karenni Social Development Center, researchers Aung and Myint,1 and later translated into Burmese and English by one of the researchers and foreign volunteers. All photographs that are used in this study were taken by the two researchers during the same period of time.

The historical information about Karenni State is taken from a variety of secondary sources in order to provide a picture of the complex history of conflict in the region. At the time of writing Burma has recently transitioned to a new government. The outgoing government (led by President Thein Sein) was replaced by the National League for Democracy (NLD) government following elections in November 2015. President Htin Kyaw was sworn in as the new President at the end of March 2016.

Download the full report in English here.