There are reports of ‘grave’ human rights violations in the largely Christian Kachin area of Burma. Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) heard first-hand accounts of the killing of unarmed civilians by the Burmese army and instances of torture and abuse. The report was based on interviews with internally displaced people from Kachin State and northern Shah State. It follows a three-week fact-finding visit to Rangoon and Kachin State on the China-Burma border. Witnesses also told of rape and the destruction of homes, churches and villages. CSW concludes in the report that while ‘a window of opportunity for change in Burma after decades of oppression and conflict may have now opened’, the situation in Kachin and northern Shan States illustrate that ‘there is still a very long way to go’. It goes on to outline the measures that need to be taken to ensure a lasting peace process, including a ‘genuine inclusive political process’ involving all ethnic nationalities, the democracy movement and the government.

Pray: for the pressure for real change in Burma to grow and that the political and religious minorities will be kept safe. (Ps.12:7)

More: http://www.christiantoday.com/article/csw.reports.grave.human.rights.violations.in.burma/29312.htm