MY EXPERIENCE; RELIGIOUS PERSECUTIO

[chinhro@xxxxxxxxxxx]

Subject: MY EXPERIENCE; RELIGIOUS PERSECUTION IN BURMA

Dear friends and fellow freedom lovers,

Below is a statement delivered by Rev. Dr. Chum Awi at the House of 
Representatives, State Governrment Affairs Committee of Texas state on May 3 
1999.

Rev. Dr. Chum Awi was principle of Zomi( Chin ) Theological College for 15 
years (1977-1992) and General Secretary of Zomi ( Chin )Baptist Convention 
ZBC (1992-1996). There are 900 Churches and 200,000 members in Zomi(Chin) 
Baptist Convention ZBC. He was also EC member of Burma Council of Churches 
and Burma Baptist Convention.He took B.A, LLB degree from Rangoon 
University. He studied theology at Burma Institute of Theology, and got his 
doctorate degree from Germany.

If you are interested to see how Chin Christians are treated by the Burmese 
Military government,please visit Chin Human Rights Organization CHRO  
Webpage at http//www.chro.org

Cheers,

Salai BawiLian


STATEMENT OF REVEREND DR. CHUM AWI BEFORE THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES STATE 
GOVERNRMENT AFFAIRS COMMITTEE CONCERNING PERSECUTION OF CHRISTIANS IN BURMA.
MAY 3, 1999

THE TEXT: I AM FROM THE CHIN STATE IN NORTHWESTERN BURMA WHERE I LIVED ALL 
OF MY LIFE UNTIL I WAS FORCED TO FLEE BECAUSE OF MY CHRISTIAN RELIGIOUS 
WORK.AT THAT TIME, AS GENERAL SECRETARY OF ZOMI (CHIN) BAPTIST CONVENTION, I 
WAS CHARGED WITH  LEADING THE BAPTISTS OF CHIN STATE.

WELL OVER 90 PERCENT OF CHIN PEOPLE ARE CHRISTIAN THANKS TO THE MISSIONARY 
WORK WHICH STARTED ONE HUNDRED YEARS AGO THIS YEAR BY THE AMERICAN 
MISSIONARY, REVEREND ARTHUR CARSON AND HIS WIFE, LAURA. BURMA IS 
PREDOMINANTLY A BUDDHIST COUNTRY, BUT IN THE CHIN STATE CHRISTIANS AND 
BUDDHISTS HAVE A HISTORY OF LIVING PEACEFULLY SIDE BY SIDE.

THE MILITARY GOVERNMENT HAS CHANGED THAT. DISGUISING SECRET POLICE MONKS,IT 
PERSECUTES CHRISTIANS AND MAKES US TURN OUR CHURCHES INTO PAGODAS.THIS IS 
NOT THE WORK OF MONKS BUT OF MILITARY OFFICERS.

CHRISTIANS FACE RELIGIOUS PERSECUTION THROUGH FORCED LABOR, RAPE AND OTHER 
MISTREATMENT OF WOMEN, FORCED RELOCATION, CONFISCATION OF OUR FOOD AND 
MONEY, AND ARBITRARY ARREST FOLLOWED BY LONG-TERM IMPRISONMENT WITHOUT 
TRIALS OR LEGAL REPRESENTATION. OUR CROSSES ON MOUNTAIN TOPS AND IN VILLAGES 
HAVE BEEN TORN DOWN AND REPLACED WITH PAGODAS BUILT WITH CHRISTIAN FORCED 
LABOR.

OUR CHILDREN HAVE BEEN KIDNAPPED UNDER THE GUISE OF SENDING THEM TO SCHOOL 
IN RANGOON. IN FACT, HOWEVER, THEIR HEADS WERE SHAVED AND THEY WERE PUT INTO 
BUDDHIST SCHOOLS FOR ASSIMILATION. PARENTS WERE WARNED NOT TO TRY TO FIND 
THEM.

I WILL TELL YOU SOME OF MY PERSONAL EXPERIENCES.

IN 1996, A TRUCK DRIVER AND I WERE ARRESTED AS WE DROVE TOWARD HAKHA, THE 
CAPITAL OF CHIN STATE, IN A TRUCK LOADED WITH PLANKS FOR THE CONSTRUCTIONOF 
A MEMORIAL HALL FOR REVEREND CARSON. WE WERE THROWN IN CUSTODY FOR TWO 
NIGHTS AND GIVEN STARVATION RATIONS. THEY WANTED TO KNOW WHAT WE WERE 
BUILDING. WHEN WE TOLD THEM, THEY ACCUSED ME BEING A GO-BETWEEN FOR THE CHIN 
NATIONAL FRONT AND THREATENED TO KILL US. MY LIFE WAS SPARED FOR THE MOMENT.

SOME OF MY PREDECESSORS WERE NOT FORTUNATE. IN 1993, REV. ZANG KHO LET AND 
THREE OTHER EVANGELISTS WERE ARRESTED, INTERROGATED AND TORTURED AND THEN 
KILLED BY A BURMESE ARMY UNIT. THE ZOMI (CHIN) BAPTIST CONVENTION AND THE 
BURMA BAPTIST CONVENTION PROTESTED THIS BRUTALITY TO THEGOVERNMENT'S 
MINISTRY OF RELIGION. THE ONLY RESPONSE WAS CLOSER SURVEILLANCE BY MILITARY 
INTELLIGENCE OF ALL OUR ACTIVITIES.

ALSO IN 1993, 30 YOUNG VOLUNTEER EVANGELISTS SENT BY THE CHIN BAPTIST 
CONVENTION TO PALETWA, A SOUTHERN CHIN STATE TOWN, WERE ARRESTED AND HELD 
FOR FIVE DAYS WITHOUT FOOD, AND ONLY RELEASED WHEN THEY PROMISED NOT TO 
PREACH IN THE TOWNSHIP.

THEN IN 1996, ONE OF OUR MOST RESPECTED PASTORS REV. DR. VAN BIK, WAS 
ARRESTED AND INTERROGATED FOR TWO WEEKS BEFORE BEING RELEASED. A UNITED 
NATIONS DEVELOPMENT OFFICIAL WITH WHOM I OFTEN WORKED ON DEVELOPMENT 
PROJECTS WAS KILLED BRUTALLY ON HIS WAY BACK FROM THANTLANG TOWN TO HAKHA. 
SHORTLY, THEREAFTER POLICE WENT TO THE HOME OF MY COLLEAGUE, REV. SALAI CEU 
MANG, GENERAL SECRETARY OF CHIN ASSOCIATION FOR CHRISTIAN COMMUNICATION, TO 
ARREST HIM. HE WENT UNDERGROUND IN RANGOON.

I RECEIVED A WARNING THAT IT WAS NO LONGER SAFE FOR ME TO CONTINUE 
MYCHRISTIAN DUTIES, SO I HAD TO LEAVE AS WELL. NOW I GIVE PASTORAL SUPPORT 
TO REFUGEES IN THIS COUNTRY AND BELIEVE THAT IT IS MY DUTY TO SPEAK OUT 
ABOUT THE MISTREATMENT OF CHRISTIANS AND OTHER MINORITIES IN MY COUNTRY.THE 
MILITARY DICTATORS IN BURMA SYSTEMATICALLY DENY RELIGIOUS FREEDOM AND 
PERSECUTE PEOPLE WHO WANT TO LIVE IN PEACE AND PRACTICE THEIR FAITH.

I URGE THE STATE OF TEXAS NOT TO DO BUSINESS WITH THAT GOVERNMENT OR TO DO 
BUSINESS WITH COMPANIES THAT DO BUSINESS WITH IT.THANK YOU.

CHUM AWI
----------------------------------------------------
The above statement was delivered before the House of RepresentativesState 
Governrment Affairs Committee of Texas state, Austin, by Rev. Dr.Chum Awi on 
the 3rd of May, 1999. It was intended to prohibit publicpurchases from 
companies doing business in Burma (H.B. 1094).


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