Myanmar: Military junta has destroyed dozens of places of worship

by Karen Faulkner, Worthy News Correspondent

(Worthy News) – Rights groups have reported that more than 132 places of worship, including dozens of churches, have been destroyed by Myanmar’s Tatmadaw army since it carried out a military coup and deposed the country’s democratically elected government in February 2021, International Christian Concern (ICC) reports.

Wreaking death, destruction, and displacement across the country since the coup, the Tatmadaw is working to violently impose its brand of nationalistic Buddhism on the country.

While Christians are far from the only minority group to be attacked by the military junta, Myanmar’s Christian majority states of Chin and Kayah have been especially targeted, ICC said.

“In the predominantly Christian state of Chin alone, over 66 churches have been targeted and destroyed. Kayah, another state with a considerable Christian population, has suffered similar destruction, with over 20 churches damaged,” ICC said in its report this month.

“These attacks are considered illegal according to the treaties established through the Geneva Convention that endorse the humane treatment of all citizens during times of war.”

In order to bring the Tatmadaw to account, Myanmar’s exiled National Unity Government is calling on citizens to document human rights violations carried out by the military, ICC said.

Aung Myo Min, the exiled government’s Minister for Human Rights, said it is important for Myanmar’s civilians to “gather information on all violations and atrocities and crimes — even if it is painful to do so. It is necessary to record exactly what happens and systematically document who the perpetrators are, including from which battalion.”

Myanmar ranks 12th on the US Open Doors World Watch List 2022 of the top 50 countries where Christians are persecuted.

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