The military dictatorship in Burma wants "Christians to be wiped out" from the predominantly Buddhist nation.
The southeast Asian country also known as Myanmar is bordered by India, China and Thailand. Military rule has been in order since 1988. They annulled a 1990 election that would have brought the opposition into power and jailed the leader, a Nobel peace prize-winner.
Burma is a source country for men, women and children trafficked for sexual exploitation and slave labor. It also is a destination country for many women trafficked from China for prostitution. The nation is the world’s second largest producer of opium. Needless to say, it has a horrible human rights record.
The country has a history of persecution toward minority religions and ethnic groups. While 89% of the population is Buddhist, somewhere between 4 to 6% is Christian.
Adoniram Judson, one of the first missionaries from America, was a missionary to Burma. He arrived there in 1813. After almost 40 years of work, he left a Bible translated in their language, 100 churches and over 8,000 Christians. Because of his work, Burma has the second highest number of Baptist worldwide, behind the US and India. Each July, Baptist churches in Burma celebrate Judson Day, commemorating his arrival as a missionary.
The Karen tribe, which makes up 7% of the population and lives in eastern Burma, has taken the brunt of the attacks having the largest percentage of Christians. An estimated 27,000 have been driven from their homes in the past year. Churches have been burned. Individuals are forced to convert to the state religion. Children of Christians are barred from school.
A recent UN security council resolution requiring the restoration of democracy to Burma was vetoed by China and Russia, who are both significant arms suppliers to the regime.
A document believed to be leaked from a government ministry opens with the line: "There shall be no home where the Christian religion is practised." The document also calls for the imprisonment of anyone evangelizing.
It also says, "The Christian religion is very gentle – identify and utilise its weakness." That, along with their steadfastness during this difficult time, makes me proud to call the Burmese Christians "my brothers and sisters."
Besides praying for those in Burma, you can also visit and donote to The Burma Campaign and The Voice of the Martyrs.
One can also donate to Amnesty International who fights for human rights all over the world.
Actually, the Chin have the highest percentage of Christian adherents – upwards of 80-90%. The CSW report is apparently based on the experiences of the Chin. Despite similar claims, the Karen are only 30-40% Christian, and the Kachin probably have a rate in between that of the Karen and Chin. The Karen are quite religiously diverse. The most recent attacks and displacements of the Karen are most likely a result of plans for more hydropower dams. The location of the new dams are within Karen and Kayah State, so they are being systematically driven out so the military may claim control of those areas and begin construction on dams that are being built with cooperation from China and Thailand.
Ah! Now that is interesting. So, the Karen are being attacked because they are in the way of hydro power dams and not really for their religious views.
o, the Karen are being attacked because they are in the way of hydro power dams and not really for their religious views.
Yes, that is interesting. Which proves a point that one should always check multiple sources before making generic accusations.
The situation is tragic, but based upon the reality on the ground, the religous persecution appears to be cover for what is essentially a land grab for power generation.
Well, regardless of the reason, it is horrible to be them right now! :( I hate having to hear about the atrocities in the world.
:(
I happened to catch a feed the children thingie on tv the other night, and of course, I was bawling my eyes out for those babies.
It is all soooo sad. I am so grateful to live in my nice comfy little house in my nice comfy little community.
I happened to catch a feed the children thingie on tv the other night, and of course, I was bawling my eyes out for those babies.
It is all soooo sad. I am so grateful to live in my nice comfy little house in my nice comfy little community.
Did you donate?
Actually, I did check multiple sources, but I have no reason to doubt Monkey, he seems to know what he is talking about.
But regardless of whether they are the highest percentage of Christian or not, the document makes it clear that Burma is seeking to destroy Christians in the nation. They may want to take the land for the hydro plants, but it seems obvious that they want to kill Christians and remove the religion from their country.
I did not donate. I cannot justify it, as my money is already farmed out to everyone else. I am still paying nearly every penny I earn on the nice comfy house I have! (I cannot justify buying a fearfully needed new bed either, in case you think it is just other people I can't spend money on…)
I wish I could help everyone all over the world, but I know I cannot. I would love to go somewhere like that and really help, though. I have to admit I am not fond of middlemen much. I do try to help when I see a need.