Burma suffered from one of the most brutal dictatorships in the world. The Karen, an ethnic minority group in Burma's mountainous eastern region, are fighting for a federal system rather than a dictatorship. In the late 1940s, the Karen established the Karen National Union (KNU) to fight for an independent Karen state, but they turned to a federal system to free people from oppression in the 1970s. After the failure of peaceful negotiations, the KNU goes to war against the central government. Fearless by Zoya Phan is an autobiography about the challenges and injustices Zoya faced and continues to face as a person of Karen ethnicity. At fourteen, Zoya and her family had to flee their village through the jungle to a refugee camp. As a refugee herself, Zoya discusses in her book the many challenges the Karen people faced regarding their collective sense of identity and safety. Unlike the Karens' difficulties as refugees, Thailand, as a state that accepts refugees, also faces immigration challenges with the influx of tens of thousands of people into the country. In order to address the challenges facing Karen refugees and Thailand, a collaborative summit must take place between the United Nations, NGOs, political organizations (KNU) and participating governments to establish clearly defined roles in ensuring security and basic needs. refugees, while effectively addressing Thailand's concerns. Refugee life posed various challenges to the Karens' sense of identity. The resort to guerrilla-style warfare between the resistance and the Burmese army displaced tens of thousands of refugees to camps in Thailand and hidden in the jungle (139). Combating the obvious challenges of health, diet, ...... middle of paper ...... then formally integrates into the Thai economy. Additionally, security measures could be considered between Burma and Thailand, agreeing to keep conflicts within the country's individual borders or face sanctions. Regarding Thailand's immigration concerns, by registering refugees and allowing them greater access to food, education, medical care and work opportunities, refugees would be less likely to leave the camps. While the summit can help actors collaborate to create the most effective solutions for both sides, the best way to address each side's challenges is to engage in peaceful negotiations between the Myanmar military and the KNU that end civil war, allowing refugees to retreat. return home as free and independent people. Works CitedPhan, Zoya. Unwavering: My fight for freedom and survival in Burma. New York: Free Press, 2009. Print.