Burma Information & News

A tragedy has been unfolding in Burma since 1948.  For over fifty years, the dictators of Burma (now called Myanmar even though the people are not in favor of this name change) have waged war against their own civilian population, especially the minority tribal groups, many of whom are Christian.  It’s the longest running civil war in the world.  The silence of recent years was dramatically interrupted in September 2007 when thousands of brave Buddhist monks took to the streets during what is now referred to as “The Saffron Revolution”.  The demonstrations of were put down brutally.  The genocide against the ethnic peoples continues unabated.  The Burmese military machine now consists of more than 400,000 soldiers and is supported by 50% of the nation’s budget.  In the cities, these policies have resulted in one of the lowest standards of living in the world.  Malnutrition and hunger are commonplace with children suffering the most.  In the ethnic minority areas, today there are over one million internally displaced persons (IDPs) living inside Burma.  There are over one million refugees living in neighboring countries such as Thailand.  Over 150,000 live in refugee camps.

Esther Michel, her father, and her sister Louisa, were from the Karen (pronounced Kar-in) people group.  These people live along the border with Thailand.  Thousands are in refugee camps.  The army systematically burns their villages and kills the inhabitants.  This has been going on for many years, but the world turns a blind eye toward it.  The Karens are chiefly Christian.  Burma is a primarily Buddhist country.

The situation in Burma demonstrates clearly that evil is active in the world. Ultimately, the greatest enemy of the people of Burma is not the military regime, it is the power of evil that seeks to damage and destroy our bodies, our minds, our hearts and our souls. But God has overcome the evil one, and God has the capacity to redeem even the worst soldiers and commanders. There is no better way to take away the power of darkness than through prayer. Love takes away strength from hate and the power of prayer comes directly against the power of evil. When we pray, the Holy Spirit works within us and our prayers become very strong. Jesus told us that he came to bring us abundant life. That is our hope for the people of Burma. God invites us to be participants in bringing that abundant life.

There is a group called The Good Life Club that is working with the people still hiding in the jungles of Burma trying to survive.  The name of the Good Life Club comes from John 10:10 where Jesus promises abundant life.  Those helping the children on the run, hiding with their families in the jungles of Burma, are trusting for a better life for all of them.

Auburn Presbyterian Church is collecting items like vitamins for infants, children, and adults as well as other needed items to be shipped to this group.  Another chief aim of the Worldwide Mission Team that is supporting this emphasis is to spread the information about the situation in Burma so there will be enough of a response that the media and people of power will take note of it and do something to stop the killing.