Karenni State is situated on the Thai-Burma border, with Shan State to the north, and to the south Karen State. It is believed that the Karenni people migrated from Mongolia and settled in what is today Karenni State in 739 BC. The state covers an area of 4582 square miles, and has a population of 300,000.
Until 1948 Karenni State had never been under the control of another country. While other states in Burma were annexed to be part of India in 1885, the British recognized an 1875 agreement in which they acknowledging the independence and sovereignty of Karenni State.
When the Burma received independence in 1948 they included Karenni State in the Union of Burma, without the knowledge of the Karenni Supreme Council or the permission of the Karenni people.
The Karenni are known as the red Karen and are a sub-tribe of the Karen people. There are seven main Karenni sub-tribal groups, the Kekhu, the Bre, the Kayah, the Yangtalai, the Geba, the Zayein, and the Paku. In these groups there are further sub-divisions. All of these groups are ethnically linked together and peacefully co-exist. They have worked together to resist outside powers invading their land.
They also work hard to maintain and preserve their culture, traditions, celebrations and languages. Each ethnic group has it own dialects most are able to understand the other's language. There is also a Karenni script.
Most are Christian (75 per cent) with other Karenni being Buddhists or Animists.
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