ABSTRACT
The Karen people occupied a special position in British Burma, where they provided manpower for the military and police forces, and in return received protection for themselves and their way of life. The British retreat in 1942 left the Karen exposed to hostile Burman nationalists, who resented their support of the colonial administration, and to the Japanese, who mistrusted them for the same reason. Although a minority, the Karen community was large enough, and sufficiently militant, to mount a vigorous defence of its interests, and Karen became involved in violent confrontations with ethnic Burmans during the war years.
