2 - Karen Refugees on the run....again

A young ethnic Karen cries as he huddles against the rain as he and other family members run from Burma's SPDC soldiers near their village in the Toungoo district of eastern Burma, Thursday April 27, 2006.  The Karen have been battling the government in Yangon (Rangoon) for more than 50 years seeking an independent homeland. Burma's ruling military has acknowledged that its army is waging an offensive against the Karen and it is estimated that 15,000 Karen have been driven from their homes since it began earlier this year.

Ethnic Karen refugees, on the run from Burma soldiers, huddle under plastic sheets during a heavy downpour Thursday, April 27, 2006, in Toungoo district of eastern Burma.

Ethnic Karen on the run from Burma's SPDC soldiers move through an unpopulated area of the Toungoo district of eastern Burma, Thursday April 27, 2006.    Burma's ruling military has acknowledged that its army is waging an offensive against the Karen and it is estimated that 15,000 Karen have been driven from their homes since it began earlier this year.

Ethnic of eastern Burma, Thursday April 27, 2006.  The Karen have been battling the government in Yangon for more than 50 years seeking an independent homeland.