Prayer update: Christians Suffering in Burma

10/12/2012 Burma (Barnabas Aid) – Despite the praise that Burma (Myanmar) has attracted this year for its recent reforms, the Christian minority there continues to be persecuted. A new report has shown that the government is still pursuing its agenda to assimilate the mainly Christian Chin ethnic group into a Buddhist national identity. Lift up to the Lord Christians in Burma, and ask that He will protect them from this on-going campaign, and that they will be able to stand strong in their faith.

The report documents more than 40 separate incidents of ill-treatment or torture, and 24 official complaints of religious freedom violations and other human rights abuses. These include the intimidation and harassment of pastors and other Christian workers, sexual violence, forced labour, closure of churches and disruption of worship services. Pray that the Lord will comfort those who have been the victims of this persecution, and ask that the Holy Spirit would enable them to forgive and love their persecutors.

Pray also for Christian schoolchildren in Burma, who are particularly at risk. Those who attend the free government schools for minorities endure frequent official coercion to convert to Buddhism. The schools try to entice the Chin children, who come from very poor families, with free food, education and government jobs when they graduate. Children at the schools are prevented from practising their Christian faith, and instead are forced to wear monastic robes and shave their heads. They may be beaten for refusing to recite Buddhist scriptures, and the threat of military conscription is used to force them to comply. Pray for Christian children in Burma, that the Lord will be a shield around them so that they will grow up firm in their faith(Source).

Christian Pastor Does Not Pay Bribes, Loses Ministry Instead

9/3/11 Burma (Chinland Guardian) - A Chin pastor, who has been living as a Christian missionary in Kyaukhtu Town, Magway Division for nearly three years, was ordered to discontinue his work and leave the town by the local authorities on 20 August 2011. The Dai Chin Christian missionary whose name is not revealed, was forced to return to his native place after allegedly being accused of not participating in the so-called 'voluntary work' and not contributing financially to the authorities.

In Burma, religious minorities including Christians and Muslims have been forced to 'donate' money, food, labour or materials to maintain Buddhist monasteries, and to serve as military porters, according to an annual report 2011 by USCIRF (United States Commission on International Religious Freedom).

One of the Chin Christian leaders from Mindat Town, Chin State, said the Chin pastor and his family who stayed in their mission quarter were ousted from Kungpho block after the authorities gave them warnings and cut off electricity and water as punishment.

"The local government authorities warned that further action might be taken if he didn't listen and that an order would be issued to the State School teacher to ban their children from going to school," added the local who asked not to be named.

Having no other options, the Chin family, who had lived in the town since 2009, was known to have left the town and gone to the nearest town in southern parts of Chin State.
Speaking over the phone last Saturday, the Chin pastor in his mid 30s said: "I am worried and concerned about my church members. I really want to go back as soon as possible. Please pray for me so that the door will be open to continue my work and for the church members to be faithful and strong in this difficult time."
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It is estimated that there are over 70 Christian believers in the areas near Kyaukhtu town, the second largest in Saw Township of Magway Division where approximately 98 percent of the total population, 4.4million, is Buddhist(Source).

Burmese Army Accused of Planting Landmines Around Indigenous Church

9/5/11 Burma (Irrawaddy) - Kachin Christians have accused Burma's armed forces of abusing their religious rights after government troops seized control of a church in Kachin State and turned it into a military outpost, complete with fortifications, trenches and landmines, according to local sources.

The church, in the village of Katsu in Waimaw Township, was commandeered by the Burmese army last month amid an ongoing armed conflict with the Kachin Independence Army (KIA), a former ceasefire group that resumed hostilities with government troops on June 9.

On Aug 26, members of the Katsu Kachin Baptist Church sent a letter of complaint to the chief minister of Kachin State saying that government troops from Infantry Battalion (IB) 58 and IB 318 had banned them from entering the church since Aug 13.

“They [the government army] took over the church in Katsu village and started fortifying it. They have banned local villagers from going to the church or traveling around the area,” said Mai Li Awng, a spokesperson for a local Kachin relief group called Wun Tawng Ningtwey (“Light for Kachin People”).

“I don't think they should be allowed to do this because the church is a religious site, and has nothing to do with politics. It's not appropriate to take over a church and turn it into a military base. It's a human rights abuse,” she added.
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An estimated 20,000 Kachin civilians have so far been displaced by the conflict, many of them seeking refuge on the Sino-Burmese border and in the city of Laiza, where the KIA is based, according to Kachin relief groups(Source)