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Burma's military regime is carrying out a policy of ethnic cleansing against the Karen people. Every year American dentist, Shannon Allyson, joins the war ignored by the outside world.

Excellent programme - opened our eyes to the incredibly desperate plight of these poor people. But why didn't you use the opportunity to give details for an organisation like the Burma Campaign? You raised everyone's awareness but didn't tell them how to do something to help if they had wanted to?! Also I think putting a little more context up front might have been useful. But otherwise hugely appreciated coverage of brutality the West should be working hard to stop!
Julia Smith, England

I am very glad that the BBC chose to highlight the suffering of the Karen people in Burma. I hope that further programmes will be made to show how pressure is being applied to the military junta that runs Burma, and how others in the country are suffering. One hopes that with increased exposure and pressure, in time the military regime will fall.
Mike Gibbons, UK

My heart goes to the Karen people and other minority groups in similar situation. Hats off to Shannon and Don for their courage and for risking their own lives. The world would definitely be a better place arising from actions taken by these two gentlemen.
Philip Woo, Hong Kong

Why is it right to intervene in Iraq and Kosovo, but not in Burma or Sudan

Brian Mallalieu

Thank you for your fascinating but grievous programme on Burma/Myanmar and the terrible plight of the Karen. It was long overdue! We British carry the shame of betrayal by Winston Churchill of promises to the Karen & Karenni etc. which were never kept after their support in WW2. Why is it right to intervene in Iraq and Kosovo, but not in Burma or Sudan? Selective indignation is part of the insidious game of politics! Let's have more exposure BBC please. These groups need so much encouragement.
Brian Mallalieu, UK

Please keep doing programmes like this to highlight the activities of the weak and brutal junta in Burma. Last week at a conference I heard James Mawdsley talk of his experiences and give an update on Burma - truly something that we should be ashamed to allow to happen.
Paul Kentish, UK

"The Forbidden War" was a great job of reporting. As an American, I am ashamed that my country for so many decades has refused to do anything to help the good peoples of Burma in their righteous struggle for human rights. It seems that America and other nations of the industrialised world value, first, a peoples' ability to render goods and services that we would immediately want, (we need a return on our investment??) Before we would ever value their need for human rights. I hate the way America has deliberately taken Burma off its radar screen.
J.White, USA

Good to see there are more "foreigners" that seem to care. We were with the KNLA 6th brigade, fighting under Bo Mayas son Rocky in spring 2000. Why can't UN open their eyes?
Reine and Benny, Sweden

Once again we have failed a people who fought on our side in the second world war

Mike Delaney

Not knowing a lot about this area, I was quite taking aback when I viewed this on my television. I think Shannon and Don should get a medal for what they are doing for the Karen people.
Josephine Sutherland, Scotland

Thank you for showing this. I don't think the British can hold their heads up about this situation. Once again we have failed a people who fought on our side in the second world war. How many other stories are there still to be told? If only I could directly help these brave people.
Mike Delaney

Western political leaders must be moved to do something. What is Tony Blair doing? The British seem to owe the Karen for their help during the war! Unfortunately, as the programme mentioned, the Karen lands are of no strategic importance to the British or Americans.
Dafydd, Wales

The debt that we owe the Karen in particular can only be understood properly by our soldiers who were helped by them during the war. Why did we support the majority party in Burma, the very people who helped the Japanese? Political benefit surely is worth much less than the moral debt that we owe these people. They trusted us - our officers and soldiers. They want their freedom. We should do all that we can to repay the debt that we owe them. I congratulate the Correspondent team on their work in highlighting the plight of the Karen.
Angus MacKay, Scotland

Just wanted to say how struck I was by your programme. I believe that what is happening in Burma is wrong and needs to be addressed by foreign governments, and a solution sought as soon as possible.
Shirin Joseph, UK

I shall be writing to my MP to log my distaste at our behaviour and make sure he knows what is going on there

Claire Doyle

I am so sorry for the situation we as British have again left behind us. If only words could help, I would send millions! I shall be writing to my MP to log my distaste at our behaviour and make sure he knows what is going on there. Please know that you have a lot of support in Britain for your work.
Claire Doyle, England

Thank you for this very interesting and moving programme about the Karen in Burma. The world needs to know more about the dreadful things that are happening there, not only to the Karen but also to other indigenous groups such as the Kachin, the Chin and the Shan. These other groups are suffering the same plight and it is appalling that the Western world has allowed this to happen for so long. Please more programmes like this on Burma.
Elisabeth Castle, UK

I thought the program about the conflict in Burma was stunning. It really opened my eyes to the brutality of the Burman dictatorship.
Fin, UK

I think it was a very good show. It is hard to be anything but pessimistic about the chances of the Karen people to return to their former life. I know little about the situation except what I just watched. I admire Shannon for what he is willing to do. His references to the Nazis and Kosovo for comparison. Probably a more apt comparison would be what the United States Government did to Native Americans 150 years ago. When you read about the systematic destruction of every tribe in the US it is not hard to believe what is happening in Burma. It has happened all over the world. It is basically the same story. I think that Shannon and Don should realize this.
John DeGroote, USA

Imagine. The Wild West. An Englishman makes a documentary about a persecuted people constantly on the move because of organised state oppression. I'm amazed at comments by the Americans in the BBC2 documentary. Comparisons with the Nazis. Have they so blinded themselves to their own history? I welcome increasing awareness of undesirable regimes but the attitude of the Americans involved did come across as hypocritical.
Phil, England

It is a great pity there are no great oil reserves

Johan

It is a great pity there are no great oil reserves.
Johan, South Africa

I would like to invite people like Shannon and Don to the Shan State to see how the same or maybe worse things are happening.
Samlem, Shan State, Burma

Our grandparents tried hard to achieve unity between all the ethnic groups when we gained independence from the British. And those people are fighting just for their own cause. They do not represent the people of Shan or Karin ethnics. They want to break apart from the country and to form war lords which is not acceptable for the people of Myanmar. I hope the correspondents will have a more insight look on the next trip.
Ko Win, Singapore

I am a former international investigator and worked on international sex trafficking in this region. I have seen with my own eyes what the Burmese army is doing to its own people, and it's unreal. The world MUST stand up and fight for the lives of the Karen People. I fully support the "Free Burma Rangers", and their cause. Good job!
Ben Minichino, USA

I am very impressed by the work done by the Free Burma Rangers. I also know the Karen and some people helping them. However, I am very saddened and perplexed why there are no groups like the one above helping the Shan. They have suffered horribly as well. I know from my grandmother who is Shan. I started a small group called the Shan Project and we have helped the children. It's heartbreaking to hear their stories. They have seen their father killed before them, their mother or sister or both raped by Burmese soldiers. Why are the politicians so quiet and "careful" with the brutal Burmese Army?! Why are there no news reports about them? I am more than happy to provide evidence.
David John Broomfield, Thailand

The Burmese Army is still systemically destroying the ethnic minorities' heritage by force. There are still Burmans who believe that Burma is their country and other ethnic groups will also be pressured under democratic government. So we, believe as democratic force, need to learn more about human rights about each person living in Burma.
Khin Maung Htwe, Japan

I wonder where these volunteers get their strength. How do they counter despair?
Bill Driedger, Canada

The western governments should supply weapons and survival training to the victims of the oppressive governments

Frank Dumon

The world tends to turn their faces away from the plights of the Karen fate. This is not different from the plight of Cambodian people under the Khmer Rouge regime, and the plight of the North Korean people. The American government and other governments in the west should put pressure on the oppressive governments either through economic sanctions and supply food and medical assistances to the victims of the oppressive governments. The western governments should supply weapons and survival training to the victims of the oppressive governments so that the victims can defend themselves. I was one of the victims in Cambodia myself, and I knew how much hardship the Karen people have to go through while they have responsibilities to protect their families and their own ethnics. I hope the best that the western governments turn their heads and take some action to help the Karen and the North Koreans before it is too late to help them.
Thomas Ngo, USA

Thank you for your support to the Burmese people.
Frank Dumon, Belgium

Thank you for caring enough to tell the story. If this were happening (ethnic cleansing) anywhere else in the world every news media in the world would be covering the story. But only the BBC has the courage and commitment to tell the truth and to cover the story. Finally the world will learn the truth of the Burmese regimes' treatment of the Karen hill tribe people. We did not ignore this type of atrocity during World War II and in Kosovo. Why are we ignoring it now in Burma?
Donald Acker, USA

Thank you so much for covering this story. It is so important yet so ignored. Now the world will know the truth about the regime's true actions toward the Karen and other hill tribe people in Burma. Fantastic!!! Keep up the great work of reporting the truth.
Kathy Acker, USA

I support your views as reflected in "The Forgotten War" because I am Shan-Burmese, my grandfather and grandmother were Shan descents. In Burma, minorities have no rights. Thank you for writing the article and for your team's action.
Htun Yee, Sydney, Australia