Myanmar Update
16 October, 2007
I was able to call one of our contacts in Yangon by telephone today, and to send an email to another. To the questions, What is the current situation in Myanmar? Are churches affected? Is gospel work affected? our contact in Yangon replied:
To give you a definite answer is difficult. But there are certain Bible schoosl that have been closed because of the situation and some closed their schools because they were forced to or the house owners were afraid of the situation. The same is true with some churches.
Tourist are not much welcome right now and there may be a change after a few more weeks or perhaps months. If UN acts quickly and China and Russia agree then there will be a quick change which the people hoped and prayed for for many years.
We are much encouraged to know that you are praying for us in Myanmar.
29 September, 2007
Unrest in the Myanmar continues. Following a steep increase in fuel prices in August, discontent began to be shown openly with sporadic demonstrations in Yangon. The already unhappy and impoverished citizens found it hard to earn enough to eat. One of our contacts reported that women were selling their bodies to earn quick cash. Peaceful demonstrations grew in frequency, until an estimated 100,000 people took to the streets of Yangon on 26 September, led by Buddhist monks. That was when security forces acted, using tear gas and automatic weapons, to crush the protests that have erupted nationwide. At least 10 people have been killed, about 100 people were injured, and some 200 people were arrested. Buddhist temples were raided, suspected leaders were arrested, while others were beaten up. This has outraged the nation, which rever the monks.
We managed to contact our friends in Myanmar by telephone and email just before phone lines were cut and internet access closed. None of their members have been harmed thus far. News continue to come out of the country via the internet access that bypasses the government firewalls. Some sites include:
http://myanmar-image.com/,
http://www.ko-htike.blogspot.com/,
http://dathana.blogspot.com/.
10 September, 2007
Are Christian preachers and orphanage workers being arrested? The Myanmar delegates to our recent Ministersâ Conference in Kuala Lumpur did not know of any such arrest. Sporadic harassments of church groups have occurred, and Christians have been imprisoned for various reasons – including non-compliance, even breaking of, laws.
One pastor was imprisoned for cheating families in a business deal, in which money was collected for supplying cooking utensils from Korea, which did not materialised. After six months in jail, he bribed the guards and escaped to New Delhi, and from there to Australia.
Another pastor organised a conference in which a foreigner spoke, without informing the relevant authorities. The organiser and those who attended were taken in by the police, and subsequently released.
Our years of involvement with Myanmar have been filled with joys and disappointments. Nominalism is rife and unethical practices are common. Those who are involved in gospel efforts there soon learn to be cautious. Faithful national workers are rarely found, and therefore precious. Even so, much adjustment, teaching, and patience is needed. We have no doubt that God has His people in that nation. We look to Him for guidance as we continue serving alongside the national workers.