Burma: Buddhist state-terrorism: Buddhist state run by generals actively restricting Christian practice and spread

An email newsletter, Insider (published by the missionary and relief organization Christian Aid) reports offline that the repressive régime governing Myanmar (Burma, a dictatorship since 1962), having kept the country's democratically-elected Buddhist laywoman president, Aung San Suu Kyi, under house arrest for several years, is now titening the noose around the Christians in the countryside, who may have thawt they were out of harm's way. - Politicarp

"I would like [the west] to see us
not as a country rather far away
whose sufferings do not matter,
but as fellow human beings in need of human rights
and who could do so much for the world,
if we were allowed."
- Daw Aung San Suu Kyi

In recent weeks, government restrictions placed on Burmese believers—especially those in rural areas— have been increasing.

“More and more hard restrictions are imposed upon Christians throughout the country,” writes one ministry leader, “and even in big cities, house churches are closed down by the authorities.

“Sooner than we can expect,” he continues, “Bible seminaries and colleges may be closed down and we may be forbidden to preach.”

Another gospel worker writes from a remote region, “The government will not allow the building of a Bible school for the Lahu tribe. Also, a number of unregistered small churches and Bible schools have been ordered to close down recently.”

Such restrictions come amid an apparent country- wide tightening of control by Burma’s military government. Christian Aid’s sources report that much trade with foreign countries has been stopped, and consequently inflation is skyrocketing in this already poverty-stricken country.

In addition, reports are emerging of drought and famine, though the Burmese government has striven to stifle such news. One missionary writes, “The rainfall is very irregular this year. Farmers cannot plant their rice fields. Within this year, we believe, many people will die of hunger. Diseases are plentiful in rural areas because of drought and intense heat. Prices of medicines rose fourfold within months.

“The Lord knows all this,” he continues, “and we are hopeful deliverance will come. Please pray that we may have medical supplies so we can help people and at the same time preach the gospel.”

For more information, write: insider "at" christianaid "dot" org, and put MI-629 715-WMN on the subject line.