The decades-old struggle for independence by ethnic Karens in Burma has thrown up leaders of many stripes, but none so unlikely as Johnny and Luther Htoo, the 12-year-old twins whose mystical powers, followers believe, derive from their black tongues and physical daring.
The bizarre rise of two children over the ragtag, jungle-based "God's Army" of 200-odd breakaway Christian Karens occurred in 1997, shortly after the Burmese army captured a major Karen base, scattering and displacing thousands of inhabitants.
That dry season attack on Kamaplaw was one of the most devastating in a long series of military offensives by Rangoon's military regime against one of Burma's largest and most fiercely independent ethnic groups.
Until recent years the approximately 10 million Karen, who are mainly farmers, controlled large areas close to the Thai border. As cornered and hunted Karen were forced to scatter and fragment in remote jungle hideouts after the fall of Kamaplaw, it is perhaps not surprising that a desperate few on the outer fringes reached for mystical aid in the shape of apparently fearless, magical twins with a direct line to God.
Other, less unorthodox small groups also broke away when the Karen National Union (KNU) lost its base close to a region that was being cleared by the Burmese army for a gas pipeline being built by Western oil companies Total and Unocal.
A lawsuit taken against the oil companies by human rights groups, who allege violations including killings, forced labour and rape of villagers by Burma's army during that campaign, is to be heard in the US this year. The Yadana pipeline is due to start transporting gas from Burma to Thailand within weeks.
Many Karen who fled south from the pipeline region in 1997 ended up in Thai refugee camps or scattered in a border area which includes the spot now precariously held by the God's Army.
That group may have grown more volatile since they were joined late last year by the self-styled Vigorous Burmese Student Warriors, who carried out last October's hostage siege at the Burmese embassy in Bangkok.
The combined breakaways represented an irresistible target for Rangoon, and since January 4th God's Army became boxed in between attacking Burmese troops and Thai troops on the Thai-Burma frontier.
Injuries sustained during recent fighting apparently led the tiny fringe group to risk the foolhardy hospital take-over, which they hoped would give them medical supplies and doctors' aid, according to Thai newspapers. The Thai media, while roundly condemning the hospital attack, tend to be sympathetic to the plight of the Karen in general.
The recent Burmese offensives have driven thousands more Karen to seek refuge on the Thai border, which is already home to around 120,000 refugees. Unlike other ethnic groups, such as the Mon and Shan who have reluctantly entered ceasefire arrangements, the Karen National Union has refused to do a deal with the ruling State Peace and Development Council.
The Karen have traditionally seen themselves as an entirely separate people to the Burmese. Though their goal over decades of fighting Rangoon has been complete independence, they maintain links with the Burmese pro-democracy leader, Ms Aung San Suu Kyi. KNU leaders have indicated they would settle for autonomy within a federal system given the right conditions.
Human rights groups say they continue to pay a terrible price for opposing the regime. According to recent reports from the Karen Human Rights Group (KHRG), forced portering, rape of women and the killing of villagers are routinely carried out by Burmese troops in Karen areas.
The Karens' determination to keep fighting may in part be explained by the example of life in other ethnic areas, where ceasefire arrangements have reduced casualties but otherwise brought little improvement in the lives of ordinary people.
The SPDC has been unable to prevent the continued deterioration of the Burmese economy and hunger is on the rise, says Amnesty International. Though the generals recently made the unusual gesture of accepting a damning World Bank report on the economy, there are no signs they will act on it.