"whoever has the world's goods, and beholds his brother in need and closes his heart against him, how does the love of God abide in him? Little children, let us not love with word or with tongue, but in deed and in truth."
1 John 3:17-18
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"whoever has the world's goods, and beholds his brother in need and closes his heart against him, how does the love of God abide in him? Little children, let us not love with word or with tongue, but in deed and in truth." 1 John 3:17-18 |
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| Naw Moo Day Wah, a 10-year-old Karen girl, was shot by the Burma Army. During this attack her uncle was killed and four members of her family wounded. She was shot in the stomach and was in a coma for 8 days. The bullet is still inside her body. She was brought to Thailand in February 2004 where she was x-rayed and examined by medical doctors who decided it was too risky to remove the bullet. Naw Moo Day Way is an IDP (Internally Displaced Person) and her family lives with other families who were chased from their villages by the Burma Army. Even though their situation is not secure they do not want to leave their home land. Naw Moo Day Wah is doing very well and now smiles much more than before. | |
BURMA: A NATION RULED BY TERROR
Burma is a country of astonishing beauty, disfigured and scarred by one of the cruellest regimes in the world.
Through whichever lens you look at Burma, you will see injustice and oppression targeting its long-suffering people.
Politically, the democratic will of the people has been ignored and the rightful leader (Aung San Suu Kyi) imprisoned. Burma's government, the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC), has imprisoned approximately 1,200 political prisoners in Burma, including 38 elected members of parliament.
Historically, Burma has been controlled by its largest ethnic group, the Burmans, since the country received independence from Britain in 1948. After only 14 years of a fledgling democracy, a military coup led by General Ne Win occurred in 1962. Since then a series of Army strongmen have maintained power with an iron fist, curtailing virtually all civil and political liberties. ÊIn 1988, thousands of people were killed in anti-government demonstrations. In 1990, an opposition group, the National League for Democracy (NLD), won a landslide victory in a general election. Sadly, the results were annulled by the military junta and the erosion of basic human rights continues to this day.
Economically, a once prosperous nation has been turned into one of the poorest in Asia. Although Burma has no external enemies, 40% of its GDP is spent on the military. Despite being the world's leading exporter of teak, and a principal source of jade, pearls, rubies and sapphires, the people remain extraordinarily poor and are becoming poorer. Burma is also the world's second largest producer of illegal opium and Southeast Asia's largest producer of methamphetamines, which exacerbates political friction between the SPDC and ethnic groups.
Militarily, Burma's David and Goliath battle pits the 400,000 strong Burma Army against the threadbare ethnic resistance groups that are seeking some measure of self-determination. Hundreds of thousands of civilians from the Karen, Karenni and Shan people groups, as well as people from other ethnic groups, have been forced from their homes and are struggling to survive in the jungle. Although tentative ceasefires have been signed between the SPDC and many ethnic armies, human rights abuses by Burma Army soldiers are commonplace.
Legally, the junta is responsible for genocide against ethnic minority groups. Rape is used as a weapon of war (an allegation upheld by the US State Department). Landmines are widely used, killing more people in Burma in 2002 than in any other country in the world. Millions of Burmese have been pressured into forced labour - something the International Labour Organisation calls "a modern form of slavery". Even the former UN Special Rapporteur on Burma, Mr. Rajsoomer Lallah QC, stated in 1998, "[I am] deeply concerned about the serious human rights violations that continue to be committed by the armed forces in the ethnic minority areas. The violations include extrajudicial and arbitrary executions (not sparing women and children), rape, torture, inhuman treatment, forced labour and denial of freedom of movement."
Recognising the atrocious human rights violations that the Karen, Karenni and Shan people face under the SPDC's illegitimate government, Partners diligently works to demonstrate God's love to victims of conflict and oppression through physical, emotional and spiritual support. Please visit the "Our Programs" page to learn more about how we help these brave people.
The information and views expressed on external sites are not necessarily those of Partners.
Christianity & the Karen (36 KB)
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