Tag: Kachin

In Myanmar, Christian rebels are in double trouble

May 19, 2015 Myanmar Aung San Suu Kyi, Chin, Kachin, Karen, Myanmar, Panglong

In March the Myanmar government and 16 rebel groups signed a draft ceasefire agreement, ahead of national elections scheduled for November this year. The pact, however, doesn’t contain self-determination provisions that these ethnic groups have demanded. Myanmar is made up of eight major and eight minor ethnic groups, each of . . . Read More

Religious groups face extinction around world

May 4, 2015 Global News -- No Particular Country Anti-balaka, Armenian Genocide, Boko Haram, Central African Republic, Iraq, Kachin, Myanmar, Nigeria, Seleka, Sunni, Syria, UN

Campaigners warn that 100 years after the Armenian genocide there are still religious and ethnic groups facing extinction around the world. Groups identified include Christians in Iraq, Syria, Nigeria and the Central African Republic (CAR), and the Christian Kachin in Myanmar. Each of these countries is listed on the 2015 . . . Read More

2014: A year of particular concern

April 30, 2015 Global News -- No Particular Country Anti-balaka, Bashar al-Assad, BJP, Boko Haram, Central African Republic, Chibok girls, Chin, China, Egypt, Eritrea, Ghar Wapsi, Hindu nationalism, India, Iran, Iraq, Islamic State, Kachin, Kano, Myanmar, Nigeria, North Korea, Pakistan, Potiskum, Rohingya, Saudi Arabia, Seleka, Sudan, Syria, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, USA, Uzbekistan, Vietnam

If ever there were a year that made plain the importance of religious freedom, 2014 was it, according to the just-released annual report by an American government advisory group. “By any measure, the horrors of the past year speak volumes about how and why religious freedom and the protection of the . . . Read More

Myanmar police accused of raping Christian, 15

April 27, 2015 Myanmar Buddhist nationalism, Chin, Churches, Kachin, Myanmar, Rape, Women

Two policemen have allegedly raped a 15-year-old girl from Myanmar’s Chin state – home to the majority of the country’s Christians. The allegations were made by the girl’s father. He filed a report at the local police station stating that two officers had taken her away on a motorbike and . . . Read More

Plight of Christians in Myanmar under-reported

February 18, 2015 Myanmar Buddhist nationalism, Chin, Crosses, Kachin, Minorities, Myanmar, Rohingya

The Huffington Post reports that, while persecution of the Rohingya Muslim minority in the majority Buddhist country has attracted much international attention, in Chin State – along Myanmar’s northwest border – a predominantly Christian population faces its own challenges and restrictions. “There is no improvement with regard to religious freedom . . . Read More

Kachin rebels snub Myanmar ceasefire deal after women’s murders

February 13, 2015 Myanmar Aung San Suu Kyi, Baptists, Converts, Kachin, Karen, Marriage, Minorities, Myanmar, Panglong, Rape, Shan, Women

What most people know about Myanmar is that Aung San Suu Kyi has been prevented from becoming its leader, despite her overwhelming popularity. That may finally change in elections later this year. Myanmar is made up of eight major ethnic groups, who all hoped for autonomy after gaining independence after . . . Read More

Warning against euphoria over reforms, as military targets minorities

March 11, 2013 Myanmar Aung San Suu Kyi, Kachin, Mandalay, Minorities, Myanmar, Rakhine, Yangon

Christians around the world who’ve been praying for Myanmar have been warned against ‘euphoria’ over reform, while Christian and Muslim minorities remain under attack by the military. Sunday March 10 marked the 16th anniversary of the Global Day of Prayer for Burma, which celebrated some progress towards reform, but warned . . . Read More

Myanmar reforms offer no respite for ethnic Christians

May 4, 2012 Myanmar Aung San Suu Kyi, Baptists, Buddhist nationalism, Chin, Churches, IDPs, Kachin, Karen, Karenni, Minorities, Myanmar, Shan

Amid global euphoria over reforms in Burman-majority parts of Myanmar, life has changed little for more than 3 million Christians and other minorities left to suffer from one of the world’s longest running civil wars. Headlines around the world hailed the induction on Wednesday (May 2) of opposition leader Aung . . . Read More

Myanmar’s Christian civilians attacked during Christmas

January 9, 2012 Myanmar Chin, IDPs, Kachin, Karen, Myanmar, Myitkyina, Panglong

Attacks on Christians in Myanmar continued into the Christmas season in Kachin state as Burmese Army troops killed a civilian and destroyed church property despite President Thein Sein’s order to stop the war against insurgents. A Baptist church in Loije, Bhamo district, held a funeral on Dec. 27 for 47-year-old Maran . . . Read More

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