The Parish Magazine June 2022

the parish noticeboard — 5
Myanmar Christians
sheltering under bamboo
trees and plastic sheeting
Myanmar (previously called Burma) has been under a
military coup since February 2021. The military, known as
Tatmadaw, are well known for their genocide against the
Muslim majority Rohingya.
This was recognised as genocide by the US government
in March 2022. According to the annual report of the US
Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF)
released at the end of April, the treatment of Myanmar’s
Christian minority since the military coup is comparable.
Myanmar is at number 12 on the Open Doors World
Watch List. Christians are numbered at around 8% (4.4
million people) of the country’s population. The World
Watch List entry for Myanmar also states that persecution
of Christians in Myanmar has worsened since the February
2021 coup.
FORCED TO LIVE IN CAMPS
Christians were systematically persecuted between
1962 and 2011, during the leadership of Myanmar by the
'staunchly-Buddhist' military. The military junta was
officially dissolved in 2011 and there was for a transitional
period a military dominated civilian parliament.
The first nationwide multiparty elections were held in
2015. Aung San Suu Kyi became Myanmar’s de facto leader.
After the 2021 coup she was detained, and the military have
brought several cases against her.
The coup of 2021 has exacerbated the country’s ongoing
civil war and the army has attacked Christian villages and
churches.
Open Doors reports that more Christians than ever have
been forced to live in internally displaced people camps
where they are often deprived of food and water. Persecution
from their Buddhist, Muslim or tribal families is experienced
by converts who leave their former faith.
Thousands of Christians from Myanmar’s ethnic
minorities have fled into nearby countries, including a
district in India’s mainly Christian Mizoram state.
Local Indian Christians have welcomed the refugees.
Some are sheltering under bamboo and plastic sheeting,
which will be vulnerable in the monsoon season.
To donate towards provision for these refugees please
follow the bottom link (above right) or call 0800 587 4006 and
quote project '75-763 Myanmar Christian refugees in India'.
The Parish Magazine - June 2022 15
The Persecuted Church by Colin Bailey
Naw Bu Baw Mountain
Aung Myint Myat, dreamstime.com
References and further reading
Persecution of Myanmar minorities – Barnabas Fund article: https://
www.barnabasfund.org/gb/news/persecution-of-myanmar-christianslikened-to-rohingya-genocide
SCIRF press release for the 2022 Annual Report with
recommendations for US policy: https://www.uscirf.gov/newsroom/releases-statements/uscirf-releases-2022-annual-reportrecommendations-us-policy
Open Doors World Watch List – Myanmar: https://www.opendoorsuk.
org/persecution/world-watch-list/myanmar/
Background on Myanmar history – Council on Foreign Relations article:
https://www.cfr.org/backgrounder/myanmar-history-coup-militaryrule-ethnic-conflict-rohingya
Myanmar Christian refugees in India – Barnabas Fund article:
https://mailchi.mp/barnabasfund/myanmar-christian-refugees-in-indiaurgently-need-food-and-shelter-will-you-help-820049?e=a668ae9426
Barnabas Fund appeal for Myanmar persecuted Christians:
https://www.barnabasfund.org/gb/donate/?project=75-
763&amount=25&appealcode=RME%2004/22
If you
would like to
explore what being
confirmed in the
Church of England
means call:
0118 969 3298
Hans Slegers, dreamstime.com
10-18 year young people will meet on a Monday
Adults will meet on a Tuesday evening
If you decide to be confirmed this will take place in
St Andrew's Church on Sunday 20 November 2022