Burma Fact Box

FACTBOX - Major ethnic rebel groups in Myanmar

Myanmar's mountains and jungles are home to a dizzying array of rival hill tribes, guerrilla groups and narco-armies.

The former Burma is one of the most ethnically diverse countries in Southeast Asia, comprising 10 main ethnic groups and at least 135 subgroups.

Multiple insurgencies broke out soon after independence from Britain in 1948 when promises of autonomy failed to materialise. The chaos paved the way for military dictator Ne Win to seize power in 1962 and the military has ruled ever since.

In the 1980s and 1990s the junta offered some autonomy to rebel groups in return for ending their armed struggle. Many agreed, but some are still fighting.

Here are facts about Myanmar's key rebel groups:

KAREN NATIONAL UNION (KNU)

- The KNU and its armed wing, the Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA), have been fighting the central government in Yangon for greater autonomy since 1949.

In the early months of their campaign Karen forces, most of whom had fought in Britain's colonial army, nearly succeeded in seizing the capital Yangon, formerly Rangoon, but were held off in a northern suburb of the city.Fact Box