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Religious Persecution: Christians a



Subject: Religious Persecution: Christians as target

No.4/99                                           Analytica Birmanie 99
RELIGIOUS PERSECUTION: CHRISTIANS AS TARGET

   The military junta is now turning its guns against Christians in
Burma. The reason for this is unclear. Christians, especially the
churches, have been pointedly apolitical. Although Christians, like most
people in Burma, detest the military regime and privately condemn
atrocities committed by its soldiers, especially against the non-Burman
segments -- many of whom are Christians -- Christian leaders have not
encouraged their flocks to actively oppose the regime. Many church
leaders have made it very clear to their flock that anti-regime political
activity is frowned upon by the church.
   In fact, many church leaders have acted as go-betweens in the 
ceasefire negotiations between the regime and various ethnic resistance 
armies -- the Kachin and the Karen, for example. As such, even though the 
regime have persecuted Buddhist monks and organized attacks on muslim 
mosques, it has been tolerant more or less of the Christian church and 
the Christian segment of the population.
   Therefore, recent actions against Christians by the junta has puzzled
many Burma observers. Others, however, view the recent persecution of
Christians as betraying the regime's nervousness, arising from growing
tension within the military between rival factions and leaders on the one
hand, and between the top brass and the other ranks on the other.
   Yet other observers are of the opinion that the crackdown is owed to
the growing strength of the Christian churches. There has indeed been a
solidification of the position of church leaders in Burma. For example,
church leaders have, through their flocks, established close relation
with leaders -- largely Christians -- of ethnic resistance armies who
have signed ceasefire arrangements with the regime. This is especially
true in the strategic Kachin State that borders both India and China.
   Elsewhere, Church leaders have, owing to their sophisticated "neutral"
stance vis-a-vis the regime, have gained some political leverage which
has, in turn, given them more political space. This has allowed them to
more firmly organize their respective communities and advance their
autonomy, albeit still marginal and precarious, vis-a-vis the regime. 

This development has apparently not gone unnoticed by the regime, or at 
least on the part of the more hardline military leaders and factions.
   According to some Burma watchers, the regime has grounds to be
concerned about the Christian church and its leaders. This concern is
owed to the fact that Christians in Burma are inherently part of, or are
linked to, Christian churches and bodies outside the country. The only
kind of foreign assistance that have "seeped" into Burma, more or less
bypassing the regime's direct control, are the kind provided by Christian
bodies outside the country to the Christian church and leaders in Burma.
   Furthermore, the establishment by the Christian church and leaders of
community-based societal bodies have made Christian organizations the
only viable non-governmental bodies. And in the event that the now much
talked-about scheme to provide Burma with humanitarian assistance comes
about at some future date, it is likely that Christian NGOs in Burma will
be the pipeline through which international humanitarian assistance is
channelled.
   The crackdown by the regime against the Christian community can also 
be "read" therefore as pre-emptive measures by the regime to ensure that 
the expected inflow of humanitarian aid will fall into the hands its own 
"non-governmental" bodies, rather than in the hands of marginally 
"autonomous" Christian NGOs.

Below are news items on the persecution of Christian communities by the
regme:
[1]
>From lurie@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx:Media Release - 05/99
January 19, 1998

BURMESE MILITARY IMPOSES RESTRICTIONS ON CATHOLIC PRAYER MEETINGS
    The Burmese Military's No. 7 Tactical Command has ordered the Roman
Catholic community in Pekhon, Shan State not to organize any activities
involving more than 10 people at a sacred religious site.
[2]
Press release
Chin Freedom Coalition
January 22. 1999

REGIME BLOCKS CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION OF CHRISTIANITY IN CHIN STATE
   Cross destroyed, pastors interrogated in acts of continuing Christian
persecution.
   Burma's military regime has stepped up its persecution of  the Chin
Christian community which is celebrating the Centennial of Christianity
in Chin areas of Burma. Chin pastors are being interrogated and
Centennial celebration in Haka, the capital of Chin State have been
postponed by the regime at least until April.
   Chin Christian sought to celebrate their Christianity Centennial from
January 1-3,1999 at Thantlang, another city in the Chin State of Burma.
The Centennial marks the arrival of American missionaries Rev. Carson
and his wife Laura Carson in 1899. On January 5,1999 when the celebration
in Thantlang was over, citizen of the town posted a Centennial memorial
cross at the top of Vuichip Hill near Thantlang. The Burmese military
from Thantlang ordered the citizens of Thantlang to remove the cross they
had erected atop the hill. After the citizen refused to removed the
cross, soldiers pulled it down and destroyed it.
   Six Christian pastors from Thantlang, Rev. Thawng Kam, Rev. Biak Kam,
Rev. Thantu, Rev. Tha Ceu, Rev. Cung Bik and Rev. Beauty Lily were then
taken away from the town and interrogated.

   In protest, the whole of Thantlang's citizenry stage a general strike
prayer service and fast at local churches or in their homes the following
day (January 6, 1999). In retaliation, the military cut all telephone
lines to Thantlang and summoned 20 pastors and church leaders from
various denominations for interrogation.
   On January 9, 1999 churches around Haka joined the protest by holding
prayer services. Military officers from Haka told church leaders that if
they wanted to put the memorial cross again, they have to apply to the
Home Minister in Rangoon. The Military has also ordered the postponement
of Centenial celebrations in Kaka until April.
   The Burmese military is systematically persecuting Christians in Burma
and seems intent on "cleansing" the country of its Chin population. Well
over 90% of the Chin population in Burma is Christian


ANALYTICA BURMANIE 99
January 26, 1999.
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