Karen National Day - February 11 During the British rule in Burma, the Karens requested and demanded a free Karen state from the British government. But the request was ignored. After Burma was granted independence, the Karen leaders again requested the Burmese government to grant the Karens an independent State. The Burmese Government also refused to grant the Karens a state because according to them, not all the Karen people wanted a free state. To show that the Karen people wanted a free state, the KNU led a demonstration in 1948, February 11. Over 450 thousand Karen people showed up and demonstrated all over Burma peacefully. But the demand for a state was not granted. So, based on the day of the demonstration, Karen National Day is celebrated annually on 11 Feb. Maryters Day - August 12 On August 12, 1950 the founder of KNU, Ba U Gyi and several other Karen leaders were ambushed and killed by Burmese troops in Kawkareik District, at To kawt Ku village. Karen people mark this day, August 12, as a special day to remember and thank Saw Ba U Gyi and all other fallen heroes who sacrificed their lives for the struggle of the Karen people.