Burma’s Christians After the Coup
Over 60 people protested at Myanmar’s Military Attaché building. Led by the Karen Organization of America, refugees – many now U.S. citizens – traveled from as far as Nebraska to protest against Burma’s military attacks on Karen civilians.
Karen refugees protest at Burma/Myanmar Embassy’s Military Attaché building in Washington, DC, on February 6, 2021.
Thousands of majority-Christian Karen observed their National Day (February 11) with mass protests against the military coup in Burma/Myanmar. Days before, Karen, Chin and other ethnic minorities protested at Myanmar’s Embassy in Washington, DC.
Burma’s military leaders seized power on February 1, sparking massive protests throughout the country and criticism by world leaders.
But before and since the coup, Burma’s military has been attacking Karen, Kachin and other villages despite a ceasefire, killing civilians and displacing thousands of people into mountains and jungles.
Graduates of Christian Freedom International’s Bible and vocational school are among, and serving, the villagers.
Sang-ka fled into the jungle with others when Burma’s Army intensified its shooting. Despite Myanmar military rulers shutting down the internet, he was able to give an update:
Q: When did you find out the Army was near your village?
A: We saw them coming with many trucks and guns on January 11th.
Q: How did that make you feel?
A: It felt scary because they came out with too many military and too many weapons. This is more than other times.
Q: What did you do?
A: It’s so difficult to not get angry, but we pray for them, that God will change their mind because we all human and we all made by God.
Q: Wow, that’s beautiful. If you could say one thing to the leaders, what would it be?
A: I would say to let us live free. We want be free. Get out of our area. When they’re here we will always have trouble. Why do they come here?
Q: What did the people in your village do when the shooting started?
A: Run. Go to the jungle, hide and hope they don’t find us.
Q: Hearing the news that the military has now taken Aung San Suu Kyi hostage, has that made things worse? Why?
A: We are so confused. She is their leader, can’t they talk with anyone? Everything is violence.
Q: What do you think is going to happen next?
A: So much more fighting, so much war. No peace.
Q: How are the people from your village now?
A: They are hiding, they are afraid, they are cold, they are hungry. They just want to go home.
Q: Have you received any supplies or help?
A: We had some, but now the road is blocked and they are not letting anyone in or out.
Q: What will you do now?
A: Now? I look after my father. I help the villagers. I teach Sunday school and play guitar.
Christian Freedom International’s contacts are coordinating ways to get aid and supplies to the villagers – while teaching and ministering. The greatest battle is spiritual, and their greatest hope is in a loving Savior who gives eternal life.
Send Out Your Light and Your Truth – Psalm 43
43 Vindicate me, O God, and defend my cause
against an ungodly people,
from the deceitful and unjust man
deliver me!
2 For you are the God in whom I take refuge;
why have you rejected me?
Why do I go about mourning
because of the oppression of the enemy?3 Send out your light and your truth;
let them lead me;
let them bring me to your holy hill
and to your dwelling!
4 Then I will go to the altar of God,
to God my exceeding joy,
and I will praise you with the lyre,
O God, my God.5 Why are you cast down, O my soul,
and why are you in turmoil within me?
Hope in God; for I shall again praise him,
my salvation and my God.
Supplies on their way to Sang-ka and Karen people forced out of their homes by Burma’s military