84-473: Ongoing [REDACTED] Myanmar [REDACTED] Karen National Army [REDACTED] Karen National Union [REDACTED] 43,000 (1951) [REDACTED] 4,000+ (1951) Bombings and attacks Coup d'états Protests Anti-Muslim violence Related topics The Karen conflict is an armed conflict in Kayin State , Myanmar (formerly known as Karen State, Burma). It
168-571: A Burmese Independence Army (BIA) to form. It was the first time in Burma's history that a specific Burmese national army had operated. Ethnic Burmans were allowed to form a political and military institute allied with the Japanese. This strengthened Burmese nationalist discourse. The BIA excluded ethnic minorities, because they were associated with the British. The BIA influenced Burma's future because
252-600: A communist rebellion . After the Burmese government settled for peace and allowed communist back into national politics, a series of tensions, escalations and battles led to the KNU declaring formally war on the Burmese government on 31 January 1949. The Karen people are one of the largest ethnic minorities in Myanmar, with a population of 5 to 7 million. They speak around 20 different dialects , of which Sgaw and Pwo are
336-455: A Karen consciousness. The missionaries focused on the hill tribes. The relationship that developed between the British and these groups stemmed from the Karen position in Burmese history. Never before had these groups gained political or economic influence. Aligning with the British presented an opportunity to improve their lives. At some point, the "thirst for Christian education" , as written by
420-474: A considerable amount of passenger and goods traffic moves by river. As the Irrawaddy Delta is one of the world's major rice-growing areas, one of the most important goods transported is rice. Teak logs – Myanmar is one of the world's top exporters – are floated down the river as large rafts. Before it is transported, teak has to be seasoned, because otherwise it won't float. This happens by girdling ,
504-619: A major mud wedge with a distal depocenter, up to 60 m in thickness, has been deposited seaward in the Gulf of Martaban, extending to ~130 m water depth into the Martaban Depression. Further, 2) There is no evidence showing that modern sediment has accumulated or is transported into the Martaban Canyon; 3) There is a mud drape/blanket wrapping around the narrow western Myanmar Shelf in the eastern Bay of Bengal. The thickness of
588-463: A missionary, was so big that the "Eastern Karen" demanded a permanent teacher. The relationship between Karen and British created resentment among the Burman population. The Burmese state pushed Karen towards the British. Britain did not control the whole of Burma before 1886. In Burman-controlled territory Karen were not allowed to study at Baptist schools. Many were tortured/killed. Karen who allied to
672-732: A narrow valley between forest-covered mountain ranges—the ridge of the Arakan Mountains to the west and that of the Pegu Yoma Mountains to the east. The delta of the Irrawaddy begins about 93 kilometres (58 mi) above Hinthada (Henzada) and about 290 kilometres (180 mi) from its curved base, which faces the Andaman Sea. The westernmost distributary of the delta is the Pathein (Bassein) River, while
756-416: A practice where a deep circular cut through bark and sapwood is made into the heartwood. Other major goods that are transported from the nation's heartlands to Yangon for export are other foodstuffs, petroleum, cotton, and local commodities. Commercial transportation on the Irrawaddy is maintained for about 1,300 kilometres (810 mi): from Hinthada to Bhamo (1,080 kilometres (670 mi)) throughout
840-509: A public holiday. The British thus endorsed the Karen view of their history. The Karen identified themselves as Burma's first inhabitants, a claim that has had a variety of political consequences. The Buddhist Karen National Association (BKNA) was established in 1939. KNA stuck with the British while BKNA established relations with the Burman. Pwo Buddhists resisted the efforts of Christian Karen to represent them in any political organization, although some Pwo Karen joined KNA. The KNA evolved into
924-590: A resistance network with the delta Karen. The Japanese discovered this and punished them. Karen armed units were crucial in the defeat of the Japanese at Taungoo in December 1944. In the Dawna Range Karen resisted Japanese efforts. capturing/killing a retreating army of 50,000 Japanese. By 1945 the Karen resistance numbered 12,000. This army was trained to fight the Japanese and collaborating Burmans. Some British officials promised Karen leaders that after
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#17327938793121008-436: A then-notional understanding of Karen identity. The incident laid the foundations for the subsequent ethnic conflict. Aung San later tried to smooth things out. Christian Karen mostly stayed loyal to the British. The first Karen battalion was established in 1943. Karen were of particular importance for British units given their bravery and terrain knowledge. A Karen resistance army grew in the eastern hills. Karen established
1092-582: A way to distinguish themselves from Burman Buddhists. To convert more Karen, the missionaries learned their language and developed a Burmese alphabet transcription for the Karen languages . Jonathan Wade was involved in producing dictionaries and establishing grammar rules for the Pwo and Sgaw Karen dialects. In 1853, Francis Mason published the first Bible in the Sgaw Karen Language. A Pwo Karen Bible
1176-612: Is a separate river, tributary to the Yangon . After Rudyard Kipling 's poem, the river is sometimes referred to as ' The Road to Mandalay '. The Irrawaddy River bisects Myanmar from north to south and empties through the nine-armed Irrawaddy Delta into the Indian Ocean. The Irrawaddy River arises by the confluence of the N'mai (Nam Gio) and Mali Rivers in Kachin State . Both the N'mai and Mali Rivers find their sources in
1260-632: Is derived from Pali . Irāvatī or Airāvatī ( Erāvatī in Pali) is the name of the elephant mount of Sakka and Indra in Hinduism. Saka is an important deva in Buddhism and elephants were often a symbol for water and were used as the name for several other rivers, such as the Achiravati . It can also be based on Iravati , who birthed the mythological elephant. The Irrawaddy gives its name to
1344-521: Is hard to erase a movement that lacks a centre. However, KNU units had trouble getting help from each other. Before World War II Karen were seen to be Christian and loyal to Britain. The Burmese nationalist movement was Buddhist and anti-imperialist. In 1941 Karen constituted 35% of the army, but only 9% of the population. Ethnic Burmans made up 24% of the army, but 75% of the population. The Japanese army invaded Burma in 1942, bringing destruction to Burma's people and its institutions. The Japanese allowed
1428-600: Is involved, Kansai Electric Power Company . Due to its location and size, construction of the Myitsone Dam has raised significant ecological and sociological concerns. According to the Irrawaddy Myitsone Dam Multipurpose Water Utilizing Project study, the maximum water level of the reservoir will be 290 metres. This makes for a flood zone of 766 km , compromising 47 villages. Other consequences of
1512-465: Is made up of fanlike marshes with oxbow lakes , islands, and meandering streams . Birds of the delta are both winter visitors and passage migrants including great cormorant ( Phalacrocorax carbo ), a wide variety of Anatidae , Eurasian coot ( Fulica atra ), about thirty species of migratory shorebirds , the whiskered tern ( Chlidonias hybrida ), the Caspian tern ( Hydroprogne caspia ), and
1596-460: Is no longer under construction at the convergence of these rivers. The town of Bhamo , about 240 kilometres (150 mi) south of the Mali and N'mai river confluence, is the northernmost city reachable by boat all year round although during the monsoons most of the river cannot be used by boats. The city of Myitkyina lies 50 kilometres (31 mi) south of the confluence and can be reached during
1680-503: Is part of the wider internal conflict in Myanmar between the military government and various minority groups. Karen nationalists have been fighting for an independent state, known as Kawthoolei , since 1949. The Karen National Union (KNU) and its Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA) are the most prominent Karen rebel groups. Hundreds of thousands of civilians have been displaced by the conflict, many of whom fled to neighbouring Thailand and survive in refugee camps. Tensions between
1764-588: Is the largest river in Myanmar . Originating from the confluence of the N'mai and Mali rivers, it flows from north to south before emptying through the Irrawaddy Delta in the Ayeyarwady Region into the Andaman Sea. Its drainage basin of about 404,000 square kilometres (156,000 sq mi) covers 61% of the land area of Burma , and contains five of its largest cities. As early as
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#17327938793121848-453: Is the most important for plant life, is atmospheric humidity . This is always high, except in the winter in certain localities. Humidity usually does not fall below 75% and is 90% or more for long periods during summer. Another feature is the prevalent southerly summer winds which erode the soil of the basin. The natural habitats of this central zone have been much altered for farming and there are few protected areas. The predominant trees of
1932-603: The Bay of Bengal and South-East Asia. Along the north–south course of the Irrawaddy River, a number of notably different ecoregions can be distinguished. The streams of the Nmai and Mali that form the Irrawaddy originate in high and remote mountains near the border with Tibet . This part of Myanmar, which extends north from Myitkyina and the Irrawaddy confluence, lies entirely outside the tropics. Rain falls at all seasons of
2016-560: The Sittaung River plain to the east of the delta was described in November 1877 as covering 300 square kilometres (100 sq mi) and containing millions of birds. Immense colonies still bred in the area in 1910, but the birds had disappeared completely by 1939. Small numbers were regularly reported in the delta in the 1940s, but no breeding sites were located. As of 2010 , no pelicans have been recorded, and it may well be that
2100-566: The Uppsala Conflict Data Program . The 20 conflicts in the following list have caused at least 100, and fewer than 1,000, direct, violent deaths in the current or previous calendar year. The 15 conflicts in the following list have caused fewer than 100 direct, violent deaths in the current or previous calendar year. Irrawaddy River The Irrawaddy River ( Burmese : ဧရာဝတီမြစ် , pronounced [ʔèjàwədì mjɪʔ] , official romanisation: Ayeyarwady )
2184-400: The [1] shows a 38% decrease in discharge compared to where the river enters the delta. it also silted up around 278 tons of sand every year. Variation between high and low water levels is also great. At Mandalay and Prome , a range of 9.66 to 11.37 metres (31.7–37.3 ft) has been measured between low-water level and flood level respectively. Because of the monsoonal character of
2268-477: The basin , the average population density is 79 people/km . For these people, the river supply amounts to 18,614 m per person per year. Collectively, the modern Ayeyarwady (Irrawaddy) and Thanlwin (Salween) rivers deliver >600 Mt/yr of sediment to the sea. Most recent study shows: 1) There is little modern sediment accumulating on the shelf immediately off the Ayeyarwady River mouths. In contrast,
2352-481: The brown-headed gull ( Larus brunnicephalus ), which is very common. One of the most numerous wintering shorebird is the lesser sand plover ( Charadrius mongolus ), which occurs in flocks of many thousands along the outer coast of the delta. The wood sandpiper ( Tringa glareola ) and red junglefowl ( Gallus gallus ) are also abundant. In the late 19th century, the spot-billed pelican ( Pelecanus philippensis ) nested in huge numbers in south Myanmar. One colony on
2436-455: The stone loach Malihkaia aligera in 2017), and it is likely that undescribed species remain. Among the most well-known species in the river is the Irrawaddy dolphin ( Orcaella brevirostris ), a euryhaline species of oceanic dolphin with a high and rounded forehead, lacking a beak. It is found in discontinuous sub-populations near sea coasts and in estuaries and rivers in parts of
2520-409: The 1936 student strike and the general strike of 1938. In 1937 Burma achieved the status of a colony separate from India. Burmese were incorporated into administrative and military bodies. The Burman nationalist movement began in the 1920s and by 1937 viewed entering the colonial army as 'collaborating' with the British. Thus the 'Burmese' army continued to be composed of ethnic minorities. Karen were
2604-532: The 19th century conquest of Burma, the British made use of the hostility between Burmans and Karen. Karen assisted British armies in the Anglo-Burmese wars . During this era, American missionaries Christianized Sgaw Karen and helped them rise in Burmese society. Christian Karen developed relationships with the British regime. Christian education taught the Karen how to speak, read, and write English. The British ended up 'Karenized'. Exclusion of Burmans from
Karen conflict - Misplaced Pages Continue
2688-466: The Andaman Sea through the Irrawaddy Delta. This ecoregion consists of mangroves and freshwater swamp forests. It is an extremely fertile area because of the river-borne silt deposited in the delta. The upper and central portions of the delta are almost entirely under cultivation , principally for rice. The southern portion of the ecoregion transitions into the Burmese Coast mangroves and
2772-464: The British helped them cement their control of Burma in 1886. Literacy, English, and Christianity gave the Sgaw Karen an advantage over Buddhist Karen. Missionaries taught them to be Karen rather than Burman, and to enhance their influence over other Karen groups. Sgaw Karen were the first to articulate the concept of a Karen nation. They created the first Karen political organisations and dominated
2856-466: The China – India route. By the twelfth century, a well-developed network of canals made for flourishing rice cultivation. Later, the river became a key economic tool of Imperial British interests, who set up trading ports along its shores. Today, the Irrawaddy is still the country's most important commercial waterway. Despite Mandalay's position as the chief rail and highway focus in northern Myanmar,
2940-602: The Himalayan glaciers of Upper Burma near 28° N. The eastern branch of the two, N'mai, is the largest and rises in the Languela Glacier north of Putao . It is unnavigable because of the strong current whereas the smaller western branch, the Mali River, is navigable, despite a few rapids . Therefore, the Mali River is still called by the same name as the main river by locals. The controversial Myitsone Dam
3024-676: The Indo-Burma and South Central China biodiversity hotspots . The Mali and N'mai River confluence region falls within the Mizoram-Manipur-Kachin rainforests , added to the WWF list of outstanding examples of biodiverse regions. The location of the Myitsone Dam, located less than 100 km from a fault line where the Eurasian and Indian tectonic plates meet, raised concerns about its earthquake resistance. Earthquakes in
3108-740: The Irrawaddy dolphin ( Orcaella brevirostris ), which is found in the lower reaches of the river and known to help fishers who practice cast-net fishing . Though called the Irrawaddy dolphin, it has been also found in the Bay of Bengal and the Indian Ocean . During the Age of Discovery , the Irrawaddy was also known to European explorers as the Pegu as the main river of the Hanthawaddy Kingdom , itself known as Pegu after its capital, now romanized as Bago . The modern Pegu or Bago River
3192-626: The Karen National Union (KNU) in February 1947, one year before independence. The 1947 KNU charter, like the 1881 KNA charter, included all Karen. In 1947 the KNU formed an armed wing, the Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA). The KNU-KNLA functioned as a government thereafter, including levying taxes in regions they controlled. The majority of Karen never supported armed conflict and never affiliated with
3276-676: The Karen and the Bamar ethnic majority in Myanmar have existed since the British colonial era , based on the British 'direct and indirect rule' policy and Karen soldiers' roles in putting down Burmese rebellions in the late 19th century. Around the time of Burmese independence , the Karen National Defence Organisation (KNDO) was formed as an armed wing of the Karen National Union (KNU) to put down
3360-424: The Karen nationalist movement. The British gradually conquered Burma between 1826 and 1886 with military support from Karen. In the first Anglo-Burmese war (1824 to 1826) Karen provided guidance to British armies. Burmese authorities tried to punish them. Some Karen fled to areas then occupied by the British or resisted the government. After the conquest, Burmese continued to resist. The Burmese capital Mandalay
3444-411: The Myitsone Dam construction will alter the hydrological characteristics of the river, e.g. preventing sediment from enriching riverbanks downstream, where it usually enriches the riverside food-producing plains. This can affect fertility as far downstream as the Irrawaddy Delta , the major rice-producing area of Myanmar. Ecological concerns focus on the inundation of an area that is the border of
Karen conflict - Misplaced Pages Continue
3528-804: The South-East Asian region, with most going to China. Other countries targeted for power export are Thailand , India and Bangladesh . The largest of the seven, the Myitsone Dam , is located at the confluence of the Mali and N'Mai Rivers at the creation of the Irrawaddy. Although the China Power Investment Corporation is project manager of the Confluence Region Hydropower Projects. ParConfluence Region Hydropower Projects, several companies have been or are currently involved in
3612-460: The armed struggle of the KNU-KNLA. KNU-controlled areas rarely included a Karen majority. Most Karen lived outside KNU-dominated territory. This fact has stalled Karen unification. The KNU's organisational structure has been copied by other insurgent groups in Burma. Each KNU unit was self-supporting. Armed units, hospitals, and schools were self-supporting. The strength of this strategy is that it
3696-429: The army and other colonial bodies increased their resistance to the colonial state. The first American missionary arrived in 1813. On 16 May 1828, the first Karen was recorded converting to Christianity. American Baptists discovered that Sgaw Karen were easier to convert than Pwo, as Pwo Karen had only recently converted to Buddhism before the missionaries' arrival. The acceptance of Christianity by Sgaw Karen provided
3780-423: The beginning, however, it was dominated by Christians. In the 1920s, the Karen and Burmese nationalist movements gained momentum. Dr. San C. Po, a western-educated lawyer and ethnic Karen made the first public announcement of the Karen aim to create a state in 1928. That same year a KNA member, Saw Tha Aye Gyi, wrote the Karen national anthem. In 1937 a Karen flag was created. The British marked its inauguration as
3864-567: The coasts of the Rakhine State and Tanintharyi Region . On the Chindwin River , transportation is carried on by steam or diesel vessels throughout the year up to Homalin —about 640 km from its confluence with the Irrawaddy. Seasonal navigation is carried on into Tamanthi , which is 57 miles (92 km) by river above Homalin. The Chindwin valley has no railroad and relies heavily on river transport. Chauk , downstream from
3948-482: The confluence in the oil-field district, is a petroleum port. It is linked to Yangon by road and rail. Hinthada , near the apex of the delta, is the rail junction for lines leading to Kyangin and Bassein (Pathein). A ferry operates between Hinthada on the west bank and the railway station at Tharrawaw on the east bank. Myanmar's military junta signed an agreement with China Power Investment Corporation in May 2007 for
4032-546: The construction of seven hydroelectric dams along the Irrawaddy, Mali , and N'Mai River in Kachin State. The total planned output of all seven plants will be 15,160 MWs of electricity, making it the largest hydropower project in Myanmar, surpassing the 7100 MW Tasang Dam in Shan State. The following data is available for the dam locations: The power generated by the dams will be transmitted to other countries in
4116-460: The construction of seven hydroelectric dams , yielding a total of 13,360 MW, in the N'mai and Mali Rivers, including the 3600 MW Myitsone Dam at the confluence of both rivers. Environmental organisations have raised concerns about the project's ecological impact on the river's biodiverse ecosystems . Animals potentially impacted include the endangered Irrawaddy dolphin and the critically endangered Ganges shark . The name "Irrawaddy"
4200-415: The country with numbers as high as 10,000 animals, but in the last decade numbers have dwindled, partly due to transferring the animals to logging camps. Other species reported to be present include the leopard , Bengal tiger , crab-eating macaque , wild dog , and otters ( Panthera pardus, P. tigris, Cuon alpinus , and Lutra species). The saltwater crocodile ( Crocodylus porosus ) can be found in
4284-514: The death toll associated with each conflict. The criteria of inclusion are the following: The 6 conflicts in the following list have caused at least 10,000 direct, violent deaths per year in battles between identified groups, in the current or previous calendar year. The 15 conflicts in the following list have caused at least 1,000 and fewer than 10,000 direct, violent deaths in the current or previous calendar year. Conflicts causing at least 1,000 deaths in one calendar year are considered wars by
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#17327938793124368-451: The drier patches are the thorny Terminalia oliveri and the hardwood dahat teak ( Tectona hamiltoniana ) with stands of Indaing ( Dipterocarpus tuberculatus ) which is cut for timber. The wildlife includes many birds, small mammals and reptiles such as the huge Burmese python . However, most of the large animals including the tiger have been hunted out or seen their habitats disappear. The Irrawaddy River and its tributaries flow into
4452-518: The dry season. Between Myitkyina and Mandalay , the Irrawaddy flows through three well-marked defiles : This sheet of lava is the Singu Plateau , a volcanic field from the Holocene . This field consists of magma from the fissure vents and covers an area of about 62 square kilometres (24 sq mi). The plateau is also known as Letha Taung. Leaving this plateau at Kyaukmyaung ,
4536-590: The eastern hills named the Dawna Range and the Tenasserim Hills bordering Thailand developed a distinct society, history, and a subsistence lifestyle. Today, about 2 million Karen live in the Irrawaddy river delta . They developed an urbanised society based on rice agriculture. The Karen conflict's roots were planted in the British colonial era . In the 19th century, certain Karen hill tribes were Christianized by American missionaries. During
4620-573: The easternmost stream is the Yangon River, on the left bank of which stands Myanmar's former capital city, Yangon (Rangoon). Because the Yangon River is only a minor channel, the flow of water is insufficient to prevent Yangon Harbour from silting up, and dredging is necessary. The relief of the delta's landscape is low but not flat. The soils consist of fine silt, which is replenished continuously by fertile alluvium carried downstream by
4704-479: The first ethnic group to establish political organizations. In 1840, the Karen Baptist Convention (KBC) was established. This Christian organization trained Karen at conferences attended by Karen who had rarely before left their villages. The first Karen political organisation was established in 1881 and carried the name Karen National Association (KNA). The KNA sought to represent all Karen. From
4788-418: The fish in the Irrawaddy river basin currently exists, but in 1996 it was estimated that there are about 200 species. In 2008, it was estimated that the Irrawaddy ecoregion is home to 119–195 species of fish found nowhere else in the world ( endemic ). Several new species of fish have been described from the Irrawaddy river basin in recent years (for example, the cyprinid Danio htamanthinus in 2016 and
4872-492: The inundation include loss of farmland, loss of spawning habitat as fish can not swim upstream anymore. The Kachin Development Networking Group, a network of civil society groups and development organisations in Kachin State warn this will lead to a loss of income for fishermen. They report locals are also worried about the flooding of cultural sites in the flood zone. As with other large dam projects,
4956-466: The kingdoms of pre-colonial Burma or the British empire . Some became ministers in urbanized kingdoms such as the 16th century Pegu kingdom . Others lived in the forests bordering Thailand (some still do). Around 20% are Christian , while 75% are Buddhist . A small percentage practice animism , and in the lowland river delta the so-called 'black Karen', a small minority, are Muslim . The mainly Buddhist Sgaw -speaking population constitutes around 80% of
5040-573: The list of officers in government positions in the Education, Forest, Police, Military and subordinate branches. The growth in literacy among Sgaw Karen led to secular Karen literature and journals. In 1842, the Baptist Mission began to publish a Sgaw Karen monthly magazine called The Morning Star ( Hsa Tu Gaw ) that continued until its takeover by General Ne Win in 1962. The missionaries taught them group pride and dignity, helping to forge
5124-874: The most common. Karen languages are among the Tibeto-Burman languages , which are a branch of the Sino-Tibetan languages . Karen people began to arrive in what became Myanmar around 500 BC. They are believed to have come from the Mongolian region, traveling south through the Mekong Valley , the Irrawaddy Valley and the Salween Valley . The Karen are not homogenous, and are religiously, linguistically, culturally, and geographically separated. The various groups do not share history within
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#17327938793125208-400: The mud deposit is up to 20 m nearshore and gradually thins to the slope at −300 m water depth, and likely escapes into the deep Andaman Trench; 4) The estimated total amount of Holocene sediments deposited offshore is ~1290 × 10 tons. If we assume this has mainly accumulated since the middle Holocene highstand (~6000 yr BP) like other major deltas, the historical annual mean depositional flux on
5292-454: The northern tip of Myanmar – the Kachin State – they cut long north–south alluvial plains and relatively narrow upland valleys between the 2,000 to 3,000 metres (7,000–10,000 ft) mountain ridges. The rivers joining the Irrawaddy are, from north to south: As early as the sixth century, the Bamars were using the Irrawaddy to gain power in the region through trade and transport on
5376-555: The preparation, construction and financing of the 3,600 MW Myitsone Dam. Asia World Company has a key position, amidst Burmese Suntac Technologies and state-run Myanmar Electrical Power Enterprise, a state-owned utility enterprise responsible for power generation, transmission and distribution Chinese involvement comes from China Power Investment Corporation , China Southern Power Grid , Yunnan Machinery Equipment Import & Export Company Changjiang Institute of Surveying, Planning, Design and Research. At least one Japanese company
5460-507: The rain, the highest point is recorded in August, the lowest in February. This variation in water level makes it necessary for ports along the river to have separate landing ports for low- and high-water. Still, low water levels have caused problems for ports along the river, as in the Bamaw – Mandalay – Pyay sectors, the shallowest point is as shallow as 60 centimetres (2.0 ft). Within
5544-596: The region, such as the 5.3 magnitude earthquake that struck near the Myanmar-China border on 20 August 2008, prompted Naw Lar, the coordinator of the KDNG dam research project, to ask the junta to reconsider its dam projects. The river flows through or past the following cities: Until the construction of the Ava (Innwa) Bridge, a 16 span rail and road cantilever bridge built by the British colonial government in 1934,
5628-457: The river follows a broad, open course through the central Dry Zone – the Bamar people's ancient cultural heartland – where large areas consist of alluvial flats. From Mandalay (the former capital of the kingdom of Myanmar), the river makes an abrupt westward turn before curving southwest to unite with the Chindwin River , after which it continues in a southwestern direction. It is probable that
5712-422: The river. As a result of heavy rainfall varying from 2,000 to 3,000 millimetres (79–118 in) a year in the delta, and the motion and sediment load of the river, the delta surface extends into the Andaman Sea at a rate of about 50 metres (160 ft) per year. Due to monsoonal rains, which occur between mid-May and mid-October, the volume of the Irrawaddy and its tributaries varies greatly throughout
5796-418: The shelf would be 215 Mt/yr, which is equivalent to ~35% of the modern Ayeyarwady-Thanlwin rivers derived sediments; 5) Unlike other large river systems in Asia, such as the Yangtze and Mekong, this study indicates a bi-directional transport and depositional pattern controlled by the local currents that are influenced by tides, and seasonally varying monsoons winds and waves. No complete and precise list of all
5880-447: The sixth century, the river was used for trade and transport, and an extensive network of irrigation canals was developed to support agriculture. The river is still of great importance as the largest commercial waterway of Myanmar. It also provides important ecosystem services to different communities and economic sectors, including agriculture, fisheries, and tourism. In 2007, Myanmar's military dictatorship signed an agreement for
5964-413: The southern part of the delta. The species was formerly abundant in coastal regions, but population numbers have decreased because of a combination of commercial skin hunting, habitat loss, drowning in fishing nets and over-collection of living animals to supply crocodile farms . It was at this river that a battle between a saltwater crocodile and a tiger was observed that ended with the reptile devouring
6048-472: The species is now extinct in Myanmar. Several species of large mammal occur in the delta, but their populations are small and scattered, with the possible exceptions of the Malayan sambar deer ( Cervus unicolor equinus ), Indian hog deer ( C. porcinus ), and wild boar ( Sus scrofa ), which have been reported from all Reserved Forests. Asian elephants ( Elephas maximus ) were once widespread throughout
6132-522: The tiger. Despite recent declines in the sea turtle populations, five species are known to nest in Myanmar at well known island and mainland beaches known as turtle-banks. These are the olive ridley sea turtle ( Lepidochelys olivacea ), the loggerhead sea turtle ( Caretta caretta ), the green sea turtle ( Chelonia mydas ), the hawksbill sea turtle ( Eretmochelys imbricata ), and the leatherback sea turtle ( Dermochelys coriacea ). The Irrawaddy River has five major tributaries. As they flow through
6216-431: The total. Speakers of Pwo Karen live in the plains of central and lower Myanmar and were assimilated into the dominant Mon social system. These 'Mon-Karen' or Talaing Kayin had a special status and were an essential part of Mon court life. The Bama Kayin (Sgaw) were either absorbed into Burmese society or pushed towards the mountains bordering Thailand in the east and Southeast by the Burman population. Karen living in
6300-549: The upper Irrawaddy originally flowed south from Mandalay, discharging its water through the present Sittaung River to the Gulf of Martaban , and that its present westward course is geologically recent. Below its confluence with the Chindwin, the Irrawaddy continues to meander through the petroleum producing city of Yenangyaung , below which it flows generally southward. In its lower course, between Minbu and Pyay , it flows through
6384-504: The valley of the middle Irrawaddy and lower Chindwin. It lies within the 'dry zone' and consists almost entirely of plains covered with the teak -dominated Irrawaddy moist deciduous forests ecoregion , which surrounds dry forest patches in drier areas. The central basin receives little rain (ave 650mm per year) although it does flood quickly during the July–October storms. The one meteorological factor which does not vary greatly, and which
6468-582: The war in Burma was fought along ethnic lines. BIA troops attacked Karen in early 1942 during the Myaungmya Incident. Four to six hundred villages (15–30%) in the Myaungmya District area were destroyed. The violence is estimated to have killed 1,800 to 5,000. The Pwo Karen who survived, despite the relative lack of association with British-aligned Karen, came to see themselves as Karen nationalists. The Myaungmya Incident strengthened
6552-536: The war they would gain independence. After the war Karen soldiers expected to be granted a state by the British. The sense among Karen veterans that they deserved self-determination partly explains the failure of later peacetalks between the KNU and the Tatmadaw . List of ongoing armed conflicts The following is a list of ongoing armed conflicts that are taking place around the world. This list of ongoing armed conflicts identifies present-day conflicts and
6636-477: The year, but from Bhamo to Myitkyina (200 km) for only seven months. More than 3,200 kilometres (2,000 mi) of navigable waterways exist in the Irrawaddy delta, and there is a system of connecting canals. The Sittang is usable by smaller boats, but the Salween River , because of its rapids, is navigable for less than 160 kilometres (99 mi) from the sea. Small steamers and country boats also serve
6720-709: The year, but mostly in the summer. The valleys and lower hill ranges are covered with tropical and subtropical evergreen rainforest instead of monsoon (deciduous) forest. This region is characterised by subtropical and temperate forests of oak and pine are found at elevations above 900 metres (3,000 ft). This evergreen forest passes into sub-tropical pine forest at about 1,500 metres (4,900 ft) feet. Above 1,800 metres (5,900 ft), are forests of rhododendrons , and that in turn into evergreen conifer forest above 2,400 metres (7,900 ft) feet. The Irrawaddy river basin covers an approximate area of 255 81 km (31 sq mi). The Central Basin consists of
6804-546: The year. In summer, the melting of the snow and glaciers in Northern Burma add to the volume. The average discharge near the head of the delta is between a high of 32,600 cubic metres (1,150,000 cu ft) and a low of 2,300 cubic metres (81,000 cu ft) per second. The discharge can be as high as 40,393 cubic meter per second in the rainy season. Over a year, the discharge averages 15,112 cubic metres (533,700 cu ft). Further North, at Sagaing ,
6888-540: Was conquered in the Third Anglo-Burmese War in 1885 with help from Karen. Burman in the southern delta then rebelled, leaving the British to proclaim martial law. Missionaries successfully lobbied to recruit more Karen as auxiliaries to put down these rebellions . Colonial policy was driven by the quest for resources. The Burmese river plains were used for agricultural products, while the surrounding hills were of much less economic value. Central Burma
6972-522: Was governed through direct rule, while the frontier area where most minorities lived was governed indirectly. Indian, Karen and other ethnic minorities helped to pacify the country. The 'direct and indirect rule' policy continued to influence political developments. From 1930 to 1932, Burman again rebelled against the colonial state in what became known as the Saya San Rebellion. Karen helped to repress this rebellion. Karen helped to suppress
7056-619: Was published by D. L Brayton. Between 1860 and 1890, many Karen converted to Christianity. In 1875, a Baptist college opened in Rangoon , later known as Karen College. Schools were built and the Christian Karen learned English. They used this to improve their economic, educational and social situation.In 1922, H. Marshall wrote: A considerable number of Karen young men and women are college graduates and are leading successful lives in various communities, as may be seen by looking over
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