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

Christian leaders in Burma are holding peace talks with the country’s central government whih they hope will help to end the 60-year conflict that has exhausted the nation’s civilian population. The rare opportunity for change has resulted in a group of Karen National Union leaders establishing a peace committee in hopes of capitalising on the transformations occurring in their fractured country. The Karen are a predominantly Christian minority group located in eastern and southern regions of the country that have been at war with the government since shortly after Burma gained independence from the UK in 1948. Ryan Morgan, an advocacy officer at International Christian Concern, ‘is hoping these talks are going to produce lasting results. ICC is excited about the possibility of changes and we are watching them closely.' I think it’s important, though, that the international community and other organisations stay aware of the plight of Christians living in Burma,’ he added.

Pray: for the nation of Burma and especially the predominantly Christian Karen minority group as they enter into these peace talks. (Lev.26:6)

More: http://www.christiantoday.com/article/burmas.christians.in.peace.talks.with.government/29151.htm

Burma doesn't seem to have made as many advances as it first appeared in a year of change. This was the conclusion of The Chin Human Rights Organization (CHRO) which released a new report last week. According to their findings, Christian Chin from western Burma are denied religious freedom and face coercion to convert to Buddhism. They're not alone. Dyann Romeijn of Vision Beyond Borders says, ‘The report is specifically about the Chin and the persecution that they face, but we're seeing the same things throughout all the ethnic groups in Burma.’ CHRO exposed a decades-long pattern of religious freedom violations and human rights abuses including forced labour and torture which has led thousands to flee their homeland. Romeijn says ‘along with the abused Chin are members of the Kachin tribes and the Karen. It's bad for everyone. All the same policies that were in place before continue; the Kachin in northern Burma are being highly persecuted.’

Pray: for the protection of God's people against those who persecute them. (Ps.9:13)

More: http://www.mnnonline.org/article/17664