Karen Cultural Event To Be Held In London

28 August 2010: UK-based Karen Community Association is to hold an evening cultural event at the St Ethelberga’s Peace and Reconciliation Centre in central London today.

The annually held cultural celebration will feature Karen traditional dancing, singing, fashion shows, and food.

Shar Mwe Hla Tun, member of KCA- London, said: “We would like to let the world know about what is going on with our people and ask for help. We hope this cultural event will help raise awareness and fund for our work to help our people back home in Burma.”

There will also be speeches including Saw Eh Htee Kaw who will share his experience of fleeing attacks by the Burmese Army, living as a refugee in Thailand and resettling in the UK. There will also be presentations about Karen culture and tradition. There is also a guest speaker, Dr. Win Naing, Chairperson of National League for Democracy –Liberated Area (UK branch).

This event is to promote Karen culture, raise awareness about the situation with the Karen people, and raise funds for the organisation. For decades, the Karen people have been suffering from crimes against humanity committed by the dictatorship in Burma including the destruction of villages, forced labour, sexual violence and forced displacement.

Many Karen people in Karen State are now living as Internally Displaced People without proper food, shelter and medicine while Karen in Irrawaddy Delta and other parts of Burma face other forms of discrimination by the ruling regime.

Around 500 Karen people live in the UK and most came to the UK as part of the United Nations resettlement programme.

The Karen Community Association UK works to promote human rights and democracy in Burma, helps the Karen community settled in the UK and raises funds for refugees and internally displaced people.

Van Biak Thang
[email protected]