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Items About Areas That Could Break Out Into War

February 15, 2006: In northern Burma, near the Thai border, army patrols have been running into guerillas from the Karen National Union (KNU). Some civilians fled across the border, to get away from the fighting. These incidents have occurred about five times in the last two months. The Karen tribes have been resisting government control since the end of World War II, and currently have several thousand men under arms. The government has made deals with most of the other tribal rebels in the north, leaving the Karen alone, much outnumbered and isolated.

The military dictatorship that has run Burma for over a generation has managed to suppress all domestic opposition, and fend off attempts by the international community to restore democracy. Lately, the generals have found China willing to provide needed weapons and diplomatic support.