Religious Liberty Prayer Bulletin | RLPB 081 | Wed 10 Nov 2010

BURMA (MYANMAR): FIGHTING ERUPTS IN KAREN STATE

Burma's Kachin and Chin peoples are around 90 percent Christian, while the 
larger Karenni and Karen groups are up to 40 percent Christian. The 
Burmese Buddhist majority has long persecuted these peoples on racial and 
religious grounds. Consequently the long-suffering minorities who live in 
the hills around Burma's periphery want autonomy so they can maintain 
their culture and worship in liberty. Meanwhile the junta, promoting 
ethnic Burman and Buddhist nationalism and supremacy, covets the above 
ethnic groups' lands for logging, hydro-electric power, jade mining and 
the like. And the regime is not averse to ethnic 'cleansing'. 

As noted in last week's Religious Liberty Prayer Bulletin, the sole 
purpose of Burma's fraudulent 7 November elections was to legitimise the 
regime and provide it with a mandate to impose its will. (See: RLPB 080, 
'Burma (Myanmar): Christians at risk of post-election violence'. 3 Nov 
2010 http://www.ea.org. au/ea-family/Religious-Liberty.aspx )

Anticipating the hostilities, leaders from six of Burma's largest armed 
ethnic groups met in the Thai-Burma town of Mae Hong Son on Tuesday 4 
November and agreed to join forces if any one of them should come under 
attack after the 7 November elections. Exiled Burmese media 'Mizzima' 
reported: 'The alliance comprises ceasefire groups, the Kachin 
Independence Organisation (KIO), New Mon State Party (NMSP) and Shan State 
Army North (SSA-N); and non-ceasefire groups, the Karen National Union 
(KNU), Karenni National Progressive Party (KNPP) and Chin National Front 
(CNF). It named Kachin Independence Army (KIA) chief Major General N-Ban 
La Aung as its chairman.'

The Democratic Karen Buddhist Army (DKBA) -- officially allied to the 
regime -- has long been exploited by the junta as a proxy force to fight 
the mostly Christian Karen National Union (KNU). However, splits have 
emerged in the DKBA ranks over the issue of being assimilated into the 
centrally controlled Border Guard Force (BGF). Burma Campaign UK reports 
that on 7 November a rebel faction of the DKBA occupied Myawaddy Town in 
Karen State on the border with Thailand. They claimed to be defending 
civilians who were being threatened by the Burmese Army and being forced 
to vote for the pro-regime Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP). 

At 9 am on Monday 8 November the Burmese Army began shelling DKBA 
positions in Myawaddy, sending some 20,000 Karen fleeing across the Thai 
border. Fighting between the DKBA (which is rejecting the election 
results) and the Burmese Army also erupted at Payathonzu. Significantly 
the DKBA, with the support of Mon fighters and defecting Border Guard 
Forces (BGF), has secured control of Three Pagodas Pass, a strategic 
border crossing between Burma and Thailand. The KNU has vowed to assist 
their former foe, the DKBA, in its battle against the junta should the 
need arise. After discussions with the regime, Thai authorities agreed to 
return the refugees. By Wednesday 10 November, most of the refugees had 
returned to Myawaddy which is now in the hands of the Burmese Army. These 
skirmishes have the potential to escalate into full-blown civil war. 
Should that happen, the junta's goal would doubtless be either ethnic 
cleansing or total subjugation of the minorities.

In November 2008 the junta, which has nuclear ambitions, reportedly signed 
a Memorandum of Understanding with North Korea, formalising military co- 
operation. While heavily-invested China welcomed the 7 November 2010 
elections as 'a step forward', Burma's other neighbours, Thailand and 
India, have remained silent, preferring to distance themselves from 
Burma's 'internal affairs' (read: human rights abuses). Abandoned by their 
neighbours and imperilled at home, the Christian peoples of Burma 
desperately need our prayers.

PLEASE PRAY SPECIFICALLY THAT GOD WILL:

* draw his imperilled people close to him that they may know peace in
  his loving presence. 

* hear their prayers and intervene in Burma to bring an end to decades
  of terror and bloodshed, for the sake of his Body and for the glory
  of his own holy name. 

Deliver me from my enemies, O my God; protect me from those who rise up 
against me; deliver me from those who work evil, and save me from 
bloodthirsty men. (Psalm 59:1,2 ESV)

* give Burma's Christian leaders great spiritual wisdom, discernment,
  authority and strength, that they might provide spiritual wisdom,
  comfort and direction - - not only to the Lord's people but to all
  Burmese caught up in these challenging times. 

~~~~

International Day of Prayer (IDOP) for the Persecuted Church -
14 November 2010 http://idop.org 

~~~~

SUMMARY TO USE IN BULLETINS UNABLE TO RUN THE WHOLE ARTICLE               
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BURMA: FIGHTING ERUPTS IN KAREN STATE

Burma's ethnic Kachin and Chin peoples (90 percent Christian) and the 
Karreni and Karen groups (40 percent Christian) want autonomy, primarily 
to maintain their culture and to worship in liberty. However, the Burman 
Buddhist junta wants total control of their lands and resources, and saw 
the 7 November elections giving it that mandate. On polling day a military 
faction opposed to the junta occupied the Karen town, Myawaddy, on the 
Thai border, to defend its citizens threatened by the junta and being 
forced to vote for a pro-regime party. The Burmese Army responded with 
heavy artillery, forcing some 20,000 Karen to flee into Thailand. Thai 
officials have since forced the refugees back to Myawaddy, now occupied by 
the junta. Civil war looms. Please pray for the Church in Burma. 

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We suggest that churches and fellowships using the above Summary might 
also provide a copy of the listed prayer points to be used in their 
worship by people who are leading in prayer.  

This RLPB was written for the Australian Evangelical Alliance Religious 
Liberty Commission (AEA RLC) by Elizabeth Kendal, an international 
religious liberty analyst and advocate, and a member of the AEA RLC team. 
Previous bulletins may be viewed at  
<http://www.ea.org.au/ea-family/Religious-Liberty/Prayer-Postings.aspx>.