Burma Diaspora (Trailer)

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Pi Vat and Ledoh meet over a game of pool-billard in a bar in Thailand at the Burmese border and discover things in common: their escape abroad from the Burmese military dictatorship, because they are ethnic Karen.

The Burmese army wages war against the Karen. Their culture, their language and ulimatively themselves are exposed to systematic eradication -- to the effect of 56 years of civil war and hundred-thousands of Karen refugees.

Pi Vat loses the game against Ledoh and has to promise to guide him into the land of the Talarku Karen, who worship a living man-god in the jungle. Pi Vat is one of the most popular nature field guides in Thailand and Ledoh due to explore the isolated enclave of the Talarku Karen as an inspiration for his dance theatre back in San Francisco. Their venture will lead them illegally across the green border to Burma, through thick jungle into a Shangri-La of vivid traditions.

An odd cry for help addressed at the expert Pi Vat intervenes. A herd of wild elephants sabotages the extension of a zinc-mine run by the Karen National Liberation Army KNLA. The revenue of the mine is desperately needed to feed ten-thousands of displaced Karen refugees hiding in the jungle from the Burmese troops.

The most obvious solution holds plenty of dynamite: the Karen consider elephants not just as big animals, but powerful omens, mythological symbols, ancestors, tractors, means of transportation, endless source of organic fertilizer, gladiators, rowdies, re-incarnations of divine spirits and evil demons. To kill them would break every taboo.

The insoluble assignment leads Pi Vat and Ledoh directly into the heart of the war zone.

Channel: People & Blogs
Uploaded: December 14, 2006 at 2:38 am
Author: maxandbert

Length: 00:02:27
Rating: 4.94
Views: 30405

Tags: Burma Myanmar Karen Ledoh Anavaj

Video Comments:
RedGunBullets (December 1, 2008 at 2:43 pm)
damn the music sucks like shit xD
Acungownz9 (November 27, 2008 at 8:23 am)
Burma's goverment is trying to stop the Karen becuz they were rebelling against them and think they may over power the goverment so they use wars to stop them! I'm from burma and i've seen the tragedy.. I was in school one day, went to my class room, and satted at my seat. My teacher, Kun Syk ki got killed by the burmese armies, because she was Karen. the soldier killed one of my classmate or my best friend and i kill the soldier because he was only 4feet and my family ran to the U.N freedom!
attie3 (June 9, 2008 at 6:31 pm)
after the olympics games the u.s.a should start a insurgent campaign to free Tibet i can not stand to see the people of Tibet get killed or put in jail just cuz there cant to religion in the open. in just make me mad to see the u.s.a. not to a damn thing to help those people i would love to get of iraq for this fight to free Tibet and the some thing go's for the people in Myanmar free them alson from the China
saveburmanowsf (June 2, 2008 at 3:25 pm)
sick sick evil
bailong329 (May 5, 2008 at 3:05 pm)
Hey does anybody know where I sign up to join these guys. To me the murders don't piss me off as much as raping the women. I don't care if they are Karen White Asian or that little girl from little house on the praery no women on this planet deserves to be raped.
hlwanmoe1981 (April 20, 2008 at 9:16 pm)
Pardon me, jimmyteh. This thing you said is not acceptable bcoz we're united. like aung1988 said Burma need Karen and Karen need Burma. Just like Land and Air. Heat and Cold. Man and Woman. But thank you for your interesting in Burma!
hlwanmoe1981 (April 20, 2008 at 9:13 pm)
No, you're wrong dinosor369. We burmese people hate military junta. but karen state is part of Burma, not Myanmar. It can't be differentiate from our Union, that is provided by our leader, Hero of burma General aung san, father of aung san suu kyi. We are united like U.S. So i hope you will understand what i want to tell you.
Aung1988 (March 24, 2008 at 6:30 pm)
You are right... Karens are fighting for their own land. Its obivous, but today it appears that they are fighting for Democratic Burma. However, I still like to see New Burma with Karen State because now Burma needs Karen and Karens need Burma.
bf2Ltdanohs (February 21, 2008 at 11:10 pm)
I WILL USE A Barret M82 Sniper Rifle
ON THE LEADER OF BURMA> THAT COMMY IS A DEAD FING CXOMMY.aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa
redelman (April 20, 2008 at 9:11 pm)
That leader is named Than Shwe.