In a rare and powerful display of dissent, hundreds of Palestinians took to the streets of northern Gaza in late March 2025, voicing their frustration and despair over the ongoing war and the rule of Hamas. Demonstrators in Beit Lahiya chanted “Hamas out!” and waved banners that read “Enough wars,” demanding an end to the violence and calling for better governance.

The United States plays a pivotal role in supporting Taiwan's independence, which aligns with American interests in promoting democracy, ensuring regional security, and maintaining economic stability in the Indo-Pacific. Taiwan's strategic location and its status as a leading technology hub—especially in the semiconductor industry—make it a critical partner for the U.S. Supporting Taiwan reinforces the U.S. commitment to democratic values and deters potential aggression that could disrupt global peace and economic prosperity.

For more than three decades, tens of thousands of Karen, Karenni, Shan, Chin, Mon, Kachin, and other ethnic people from Burma (Myanmar) have lived in refugee camps along the Thai border. Fleeing genocide, land grabs, and forced military violence, they found temporary safety—but not a future.

This reality presents a critical strategic oversight. If the United States and its allies wish to protect democratic interests and stability in Southeast Asia, they must reconsider their current approach. Ignoring the rising influence and legitimacy of these ethnic forces risks allowing China to recalibrate first, aligning with these groups and thereby expanding its economic and geopolitical dominance in the region.

Since the 2021 coup in Burma (Myanmar), much of the international community has looked to the National Unity Government (NUG) as a beacon of democratic resistance to the military junta. Promising to replace dictatorship with “federal democracy,” the NUG has gained sympathy abroad. But within Burma, particularly among the country’s diverse ethnic nations (Karen, Karenni, Kachin, Arakan, Mon, Shan, Cin et al), that promise rings hollow and deceptive.

Recent analyses indicate a notable shift among Generation Z (born approximately between 1997 and 2012) and the emerging Generation Alpha (born from 2013 onward) towards more conservative political views, aligning with movements associated with the Trump administration.​

Since its inception, Karen Day DC has served as a powerful platform for ethnic advocacy, bringing together members of the Karen community and allied ethnic groups to push for meaningful policy changes in the U.S. and international arenas. This annual gathering in Washington, D.C., has been instrumental in shedding light on the ongoing oppression and human rights violations in Burma, calling for international intervention, sanctions, and diplomatic pressure. Below is a summary of key agendas and outcomes from Karen Day DC over the years.

​In early March 2025, Burma/Myanmar's military leader, Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow to strengthen bilateral relations between the two nations. A significant outcome of this meeting was the signing of an agreement to construct a small-scale nuclear power plant in Burma/Myanmar, marking a notable development in Southeast Asia's geopolitical landscape.

An open discussion with Tee Soe and Kevin LaChapelle on Karen Day in DC 2025. First, I would like to ask Dr. Kevin the main purpose of going to this trip and give us some details that we need to know for this district.

Burmanization is a deeply entrenched policy and practice in Burma (Myanmar), systematically designed to erase the distinct cultural, linguistic, and religious identities of the country's diverse ethnic groups. This strategy, which has been in place for decades, seeks to assimilate ethnic minorities into the dominant Bamar (Burman) identity. The Karen, Karenni, Shan, Mon, Kachin, Arakan (Rakhine), and Chin people, among others, have borne the brunt of this policy through forced assimilation, linguistic erasure, religious persecution, and violent ethnic cleansing.

For true peace and stability in Burma (Myanmar), each ethnic group must have full independence rather than being forced into a centralized state dominated by the Bamar elite. This model envisions a system where each ethnic nation governs itself, with shared cooperation only in areas of mutual interest (trade, regional security, and diplomacy).

Thailand's relationship with Burma (Myanmar) has undergone a dramatic shift over the years, moving from providing refuge and support for ethnic minorities to actively engaging with the ruling military junta. This transition has had dire consequences for humanitarian aid efforts and the safety of ethnic groups under attack by Burma (Myanmar)'s military.

In a powerful and unprecedented moment, Reverend Dr. Hkalam Samson, president of the Kachin Baptist Convention (KBC), met with President Donald Trump at the White House as part of an event highlighting international religious freedom. This meeting was a critical turning point for the ethnic people of Burma, particularly the Kachin, Karen, Karenni, Shan, Mon, Arakan, and Chin, who have suffered relentless persecution under the Burmese military regime for over 75 years.

The Rohingya people are an ethnic minority with a complex history in Myanmar (Burma). Their origins trace back to various migrations from the Bengal region (modern-day Bangladesh and India), with significant influences from Arab, Persian, Mughal, and Bengali traders and settlers. The most significant migration into Burma occurred during British colonial rule. This migration led to ethnic tensions that persist today, with allegations of separatism and links to Islamic movements contributing to the Rohingya’s marginalization and statelessness.

Both General Aung San and Aung San Suu Kyi shaped Burma (Myanmar)’s modern history, but their legacies are deeply tied to Burmanization, ethnic suppression, and military rule. General Aung San, though seen as the father of Burma’s independence, pushed for a centralized Bamar-dominated state, leading to 75 years of war. His daughter, Aung San Suu Kyi, instead of reversing these policies, upheld them, choosing power over justice.

The Golden Triangle region—where the borders of Burma (Myanmar), Thailand, and Laos converge—has long been a hub for illicit drug production and trafficking. Historically known for opium cultivation, the area has seen a significant shift towards synthetic drugs, particularly methamphetamine, in recent years. This evolution has had profound implications for regional stability, especially concerning ethnic armed organizations (EAOs) in Burma (Myanmar) and neighboring Thailand.

For decades, the Burman-led government has promoted federalism as a supposed solution for ethnic minorities in Myanmar. It has been presented as a path toward peace and equality. Yet, history has repeatedly shown that federalism does not—and will not—work in a system where the Burmans still control the levers of power.

For over 3,000 years, the Jewish people have maintained an unbroken historical, religious, and cultural connection to the land of Israel. Despite political narratives suggesting otherwise, biblical records, historical evidence, and international law affirm that Israel is the rightful homeland of the Jewish people. In contrast, the modern Palestinian identity emerged only in the 20th century, with no historical precedent for a sovereign Palestinian state. Furthermore, Arab states have deliberately rejected the integration of Palestinian refugees to perpetuate conflict with Israel, rather than resolving the refugee issue.

For centuries, the Karen people have been the original stewards of their land, long before the arrival of the Burmans. Historical, anthropological, and linguistic evidence confirms that the Karen settled in Burma over 2,500 years ago, making them one of the earliest indigenous groups in the region. In contrast, the Burmans arrived much later, around the 9th century A.D., migrating from the eastern Himalayas. This stark difference in settlement timelines establishes the Karen as the rightful landowners of their ancestral territory, Kawthoolei.