International Day of Prayer Called for Persecuted Chin Christians in Burma
The Chin Human Rights Organization is calling for a day of prayer for persecuted Chin Christians in Burma on Jan. 30
The Chin Human Rights Organization is calling for a day of prayer for persecuted Chin Christians in Burma on Sunday, Jan. 30, after the latest destruction of Christian crosses in Chin State by Burma’s ruling military regime.
“While the military junta alone is responsible for encroaching upon religious freedom and persecuting Chin Christians under the guise of national unity, we invite people of all religion including our Buddhist, Muslim and Hindu friends to join us in prayer for Chin Christians in Burma,” CHRO stated.
According to CHRO, the Burmese military regime on Jan. 3, 2005 destroyed yet another Christian cross in Matupi Township of Southern Chin State. Measuring 50 feet in height and built with solid concrete by multi-denominational churches in Matupi, the cross was considered to be one of the few remaining crosses in Chin State. CHRO reported that during the last several years beginning in mid 1990s, the military regime has dismantled at least half a dozen crosses in Matupi, Tonzang, Hakha, Falam and Thantlang townships and has demolished several church buildings. “In many cases, through illegal taxes and forced labor exacted from local Christians, the military regime has built Buddhist pagodas to replace these crosses,” the organization claimed.
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“The regime has no justifiable cause for the removal of those crosses and construction of Buddhist pagodas in a land where the people are predominantly Christians,” CHRO stated. “The intent behind its action, however, is unmistakably clear. The regime is vigorously pursuing a policy of religious persecution against Chin Christians in order to expand the influence of Buddhism in Chinland.”
“The ultimate goal is to gain control of the Chin people by annihilating their culture, religion and ethnic identity. The destruction of crosses, church buildings and persecution of Christian religious leaders are evidently designed to crush the will and psychology of Chin Christians to preserve and defend their religious, cultural and ethnic identity,” CHRO further stated.
The organization also noted that the military regime has persistently ignored calls by the United States and the larger international community to respect human rights and religious freedom of all its citizens. “But we can together help to ameliorate the suffering of our people by showing to the world we are united against the reprehensible actions of the Burmese military junta,” it stated.
In concluding its statement CHRO said “an internationally synchronized action is certain to bring an impact on our cause.”
“It is high time that we act together in unity and send a strong message to the junta it cannot get away with its reprehensible actions.”
Most recently, the Voice of the Martyrs reported that more than 400 exiled Chins gathered on Monday, Jan. 24 near the Burmese embassy in New Delhi, India, to condemn the systematic persecution of Chin Christians by the ruling military regime in their homeland.
On Jan. 17, the Democratic Voice of Burma (DVB) news agency reported that more than 160 Burmese nationals, mainly Chin Christians including three women, were arrested outside the Burmese embassy in Kuala Lumpur for holding an “illegal” protest against the destruction of the cross on Jan. 3.
