Conflict between Burmese authorities and the Karen National Union (KNU) military wing Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA) has lasted decades claiming lives of tens of thousands people. The KNLA are calling for an independent state. More than half million ethic Karen live in refugee camps scattered along the Thai-Burma border and in diaspora. In january 2008 the Karen strugle entered its 60th year since the fighting began making this the longest was for independence in the world.