A Land Without Evil : Stopping the Genocide of Burma's Karen People

by Benedict Rogers

The gentle Karen, a tribe in Burma's eastern regions, call their country "a land without evil". They number between four and five million, and have been fighting for half a century to keep their land and identity. Many - at least 40 per cent - are Christians, and have suffered particularly harsh treatment. Burma today, and Karen State in particular, is a land torn apart by evil. It is a land ruled by a regime which took power by force, ignored the will of the people in an election, and survives by creating a climate of fear. It is a land terrorised by a military regime which to this day perpetrates a catalogue of crimes against humanity. It takes people for forced labour, uses villagers as human minesweepers, captures children and forces them to become soldiers, systematically rapes ethnic minority women, and burns down villages and crops. It is a regime which has killed thousands of people in the ethnic minority areas. This compassionate but unflinching account of the Karen's predicament is an important step in galvanising Western opinion about this ongoing act of genocide.

Genres: Nonfiction

256 pages, Paperback

Published January 1, 2004

About the author

Benedict Rogers is a human rights activist and journalist.

Reviews

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

You will hate the junta of Burma after reading this book. But hatred doesn't do any good, so pray for the country of Burma. They are in the news again b/c of the democratic demonstrations. This young author gives an up close and personal account of his work in the country. It's sad, but we shouldn't be ignorant of the world around us.

[Leroy Seat · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book, while not very well written or organized, points out the sad plight of the Karen people in Myanmar (Burma) and efforts some are making to help them. Reading this book has made me feel guilty for not doing more to help the Karens, those still in Asia and those who have emigrated to the States and some of the latter living not far from where I live.

[Bryan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not incredibly well written, but incredibly convicting. Describes the genocide that the majority Burmese are engaged in against the minority groups (particularly the Karen people) of what used to be called Burma (now it's Myanmar).

[Catherine Campbell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Benedict Rogers has done an amazing job in clarifying what is a very complicated political situation which has resulted in the genocide of a beautiful people group: the Karen of Burma, and in particular the persecution of Christians.

[Judy · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting history of the Karen people.