Samenvatting

In this article we describe how and why the Karen National Union (KNU) has profited from international refugee camps and humanitarian aid in Thailand after they had been largely defeated in Burma. By assuming leadership positions in the refugee and camp committees, they have been able to maintain their specific ideology in the camps. Because humanitarian aid to these refugee camps was much higher than to victims and organizations in Burma itself, international donors and NGOs have disproportionately supported the KNU.