Karen Youth: Are We on the Right Track Towards Real Peace Process in Burma?

Eugene / Burma Link AOC, May 26, 2014

Today, a group of 56 Karen youths from Irrawaddy, Rangoon, Bago, Mon and Karen State, made their way to Mae La refugee camp to meet and exchange views with about 40 young Karen refugee students from three different post-ten schools in the camp. The meeting and the trip was supported by Karen Development Network (KDN).

As one of the camp participants in the meeting, I witnessed the visiting Karen being very energetic and active to learn more about the refugee camp society, especially with regard to education and livelihood. They also hope to form a network between Karen youths inside Burma and on the border and were eager to have the chance to meet up with students from Leadership and Management Training College (LMTC), Shalom Arts and Leadership College (SALC) and Engineering Study Program (ESP) at LMTC, in Zone C.

The participants discussed the topics of education in the camp and inside Burma, the future plans for the students, and the peace process. During the discussion, both sides found many similarities with their education and future plans. For the Karen youths from Burma it is very difficult to get a job even though they have graduated from a university. On the other hand, while refugee students might have some qualification, the certificate they get here is not recognized anywhere and it is therefore hard for the refugee youths to move on and reach their goals for their future.

The participants also exchanged their views on the currently running peace process. The Karen from inside Burma are very grateful that they can now travel freely inside Burma to form a relationship with Karen people who are living on the Thai-Burma border. Without the peace process, they would not be able to come to the border.

Nevertheless, when all participants evaluated the peace process, they regrettably found more negative outcomes than positive outcomes. The worst cases Karen youth from inside highlighted were land grabbing by business people, and increased drug abuse among the youths in Burma.

During the exchange that took about three hours, the Karen youth from inside and in exile had a rare opportunity to share their stories, exchange their opinions on the peace process as well as on the government. One unresolved question that remains for the youth is: “Are we on the right track towards real peace process in Burma?”