Aung San Suu Kyi: born
19 June 1945 in Rangoon, is a pro-democracy activist and leader of the National
League for Democracy in Burma, and a noted prisoner of conscience and advocate
of nonviolent resistance. (wikipedia)
BA: Burma Army, sometimes referred to as
the "Tatmadaw."
Basket: Unit of measure equal to 2 tins
( one tin = 8 gallons in volume )
CIDKP: Committee for Internally Displaced
Karen People; Karen group providing aid to IDPs in Karen State.
CNC: Chin National Council, the pro-democracy
resistance group of Chin State.
DKBA: Democratic Karen Buddhist Army. Broke
away from the KNU in late 1994; proxy army of the SPDC.
Dooplaya District: Region in Southern Karen
State. (map)
FBR: Free Burma Rangers; a multi-ethnic
humanitarian service movement. They bring help, hope and love to people in the
war zones of Burma.
GLC: Good Life Club; a relief arm of the
FBR directed at aiding mothers and children in the displaced communities in
Burma.
IB: Infantry Battalion. IBs typically have
120 to 150 men, for garrison duty, sometimes offensive.
IDP: Internally displaced person; person
who has been displaced from their home but has not fled their country; that
is, has not fled across an international border.
KA: Karenni Army, the armed wing of the
KNPP.
Karen: The Karen people (MLCTS: kayin lu
myo:), self-titled Pwa Ka Nyaw Po, and also known in Thailand as the Kariang
or Yang, are an ethnic group in Burma and Thailand. Karen are the second largest
population group in Burma after ethnic Burmese. The Karen have fought for independence
from Burma since 31 January 1949. Consequently, 31 January is recognized as
Revolutionary Day amongst the Karen.
Karen State: Traditional homeland of the
Karen people, also known as KayinState. The capital city is Pa-an. Control of
the area is disputed between the military government of Burma (SPDC) and Karen
groups, who refer to the area as Kawthoolei. (map)
(wikipedia)
KNDO: Karen National Defense Organization;
local force of local fighters affiliated with the KNU.
KNLA: Karen National Liberation Army; the
KNU's armed wing since 1975.
KNO: Kachin National Organization, pro-democracy
Kachin organization.
KNPP: Karenni National Progressive Party;
Karenni pro-democracy resistance group, established in 1955.
KNU: Karen National Union. Pro-democracy
resistance group in Karen State, established on 5 February 1947.
Kyat: Burmese currency unit (abbreviated
as "K"). Official exchange rate: 1 USD = K 7. Street rate: 1 USD = K 1240.
LIB: light infantry battalion, with 120 to
150 men, for offensive operations, sometimes garrison duty.
LID: Light infantry division, 10 battalions
Mae Sot: a town and district in Tak Province,
Thailand at the Thai-Myanmar border with the Moei River as a natural boundary.
(wikipedia)
Mandalay: the second largest city and the
last royal capital of Burma (Myanmar), and is the economic and cultural hub
of Upper Burma.(wikipedia)
MOC: Military Operations Command, 10 battalions,
7 of which are active in the field and 3 of which are in reserve (3 TOCs and
1 headquarters battalion), used for attack
Mon Township: Region in Northern Karen State.
(map)
Naypyidaw: (also spelled Nay Pyi Taw) is
the capital of Myanmar. Naypyidaw means "Royal City", but is also translated
as "abode of kings". Naypyidaw is approximately 320 kilometres north of Yangon.
The capital's official name was announced on Burma Armed Forces Day in March
2006. (wikipedia)
NLD: National League for Democracy; main
pro-democracy political party in Burma. Led by Aung San Suu Kyi.
Nyaunglebin District: Region in North-East
Karen State. (map)
Pa-An District: Region in Eastern Karen
State, bordering Thailand. (map)
Shan: The Shan people are a Tai ethnic group
of Southeast Asia. Shan people live primarily in the Shan State of Burma, but
also inhabit parts of Mandalay Division, Kachin State, and Kayin State, and
in adjacent regions of China and Thailand. Though no reliable census has been
taken in Burma since 1935, Shan are estimated to number approximately 6 million.
SOC: Strategic Operations Command; under
regional command, 3-4 battalions and a headquarters, covers an area, mostly
defense.
SPDC: State Peace and Development Council;
the official name of the ruling military junta in Burma, successor to the previous
"State Law and Order Restoration Council" assumed after the shakeup of 1990.
SSA: Shan State Army; armed pro-democracy
movement in Shan State
Tantabin District: Region in Northern Karen
State. (map)
Thalot: Unit of measure equal to 2 kg
Than Shwe:( born 2 February 1933) is Head
of State of Burma (Myanmar), serving as Commander-in-Chief of the Tatmadaw and
chairman of the State Peace and Development Council since 23 April 1992. (wikipedia)
Thaton District: Region in Northern Karen
State. (map)
Toungoo District:
Region in Northern Karen State. (map)
TOC: Tactical Operations Command, usually
under a LID, three battalions and a headquarters, for defensive operations
UWSA: United Wa State Army; proxy army of
the SPDC in the Wa State
Viss: Unit of measer equal to 1.6 Kg
Yangon: (also known as Rangoon) is the largest
city and a former capital of Burma. Although the military government has officially
relocated the capital to Naypyidaw since March 2006, Yangon, with a population
of four million, continues to be the country's largest city and the most important
commercial center. (wikipedia)
