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The Karen (no S) you met were most likely refugees from Burma. For decades their lives have been very controlled by the Thai authorities, who use them as exotic
by altacc 4y ago
The Karen (no S) you met were most likely refugees from Burma. For decades their lives have been very controlled by the Thai authorities, who use them as exotic tourist exhibits. The Thais don’t allow them to farm for themselves as they want to keep them dependent, subservient and profitable (I confer no judgment in the tourists who visit them as it’s complicated). So they tend to have secret fields in the jungle so that they can grow their own food and not suffer the whims of their hosts.
The Karen have long been one of the primary armed groups fighting for their own state and against Burma’s military junta. As a result they’ve been persecuted by the junta. Currently their territory has some of the worst combat in the ongoing civil war.
- AlbertCory 4y agoThere was definitely some farming among the hill tribes, but I don't know by whom. We visited one tribe that was considered Bad by the missionaries, so we didn't stay there. They were thought Bad because they all chewed betel nut and consequently had red mouths.
- altacc 4y agoI'm not a fan of betel nut chewing, it's really unsightly & messy, but it's basically their equivalent of smoking. A lot of missionaries have odd ideas about how the people they are trying to "save" should behave. Some villages will play along in the hope of getting some benefit but others will have nothing to do with them.