Year Book of Jehovah's Witnesses - Watchtower Archive

Yearbook 119
witness', but man has said this may not be done on
earth. There is nothing left for God to do except to
destroy such nations. These rulers are fighting against
God, but they cannot win.
BURMA
Two-thirds of the 18 million people that live in
Burma are Burmese Buddhists, and they do not believe
in the existence of a Creator. It is easily seen
from the very start that it would be difficult to talk
to these people, and much groundwork must be laid
first. However, we find a steady increase in publishers
in this country, the number rising from 57 in 1949
to 70 in 1950, an increase of 23 per cent. There was
a peak of publishers of 87 in the month of December.
There is no persecution of Jehovah's witnesses in
Burma; however, they do have many trials and obstacles
to overcome. The rebellion against the government
has made it difficult to carryon the witness
work. This state of affairs interferes greatly with
the preaching of the gospel. There is great need for
more Gilead-trained brethren in Burma; however,
while the government shows tolerance toward the
brethren already there, it refuses to allow more graduates
of Gilead school to enter the country for the
present. It is sincerely hoped that when the political
difficulties subside more brethren can be sent into
this country to care for the interested people. The
branch servant sent us a good report of happenings
there in the past service year, and all will read it
with interest.
The 1950 Yearbook reported the organizing of a company
of 12 publishers at Thinganaing village, about 100 miles
from Rangoon. Very shortly thereafter this village was
wiped out by a ruthless gang of dacoits (robbers). Not only
did our brethren lose all their possessions, Bible literature
and homes, but one of them was also murdered. The rest
were thereafter scattered throughout insurgent-held territory
and practically all contact with them was lost, except in
the case of faithful brother Po Lay, who is now caring for