Myanmar

Where Persecution Comes From

In Myanmar, Buddhist leaders instigate Christian persecution in predominantly Buddhist communities. Radical Buddhist movement Ma Ba Tha hails itself as the protector of Buddhism, the country’s national religion. Recently, Ma Ba Tha was banned but is expected to continue its activities regardless. Local government officials, especially those in rural areas, show bias towards Buddhist leaders. This means that Christians, who often happen to be both religious and ethnic minorities, are often discriminated against. Christians who come from Buddhist, Muslim and tribal families experience this persecution within the home because family and community see their conversion as betrayal.

How Christians are Suffering

In predominantly Christian states like Kachin State, Karen State and Northern Shan, even well-established historical churches experience attacks. More than 100,000 Christians live in IDP (internally displaced) camps, deprived of access to food and healthcare. In some instances, Buddhist monks have invaded church properties and built Buddhist shrines on church premises. The Buddhist, Muslim or tribal families of converts persecute believers, often ostracized from society. Communities who aim to stay “Buddhist only” make life for Christian families impossible by not allowing them to use community water resources. Evangelical church groups experience opposition as well, especially those in rural areas of Myanmar.

Examples

In most schools before classes begin, all students (including non-Buddhists) are required to recite a Buddhist teaching or prayer.

Converts are discriminated against in various ways. In one account, a teacher refused to give a Christian student a list of questions she provided to others to prepare for tests. In another case when a family sold a plot of land, the earnings were distributed among all siblings except the convert.

In May 2017, the army stopped three Christians collecting firewood in Kachin State and took them into custody. Their bodies were found on May 28–tortured and killed by the army.