Myanmar: Christian persecution has increased “exponentially” since military coup

by Karen Faulkner, Worthy News Correspondent

(Worthy News) – The Free Burma Rangers Christian aid organization is warning that the persecution of Christians in Myanmar has “grown exponentially” since the military coup of February 2021 ended the troubled country’s fragile democracy, the WNG.org news outlet reports.

In a statement to WNG, Dave Eubank, Director of Free Burma Rangers, Dave Eubank said the rogue ruling Buddhist Burmese Army (“Tatmadaw”) has intensified attacks on Christian communities, targeting churches and killing and arresting clergy.

Giving an example of the atrocities being perpetrated, Eubank said his team arrived at the village of Lay Wah in the predominantly Karen State on January 12, shortly after a military plane dropped bombs and killed a toddler, her mother, a Baptist pastor, a Catholic deacon, and a villager, and destroyed two churches and a school.

Three days later, on January 15, the Tatmadaw attacked the predominantly Christian village of Chan Thar and burned down Assumption Church, a 129-year-old Catholic church. The village had already been subjected to numerous destructive raids by the army in recent months.

Confirming Eubanks’ assessment, Open Doors USA explains in an updated website statement: “The situation in Christian areas has taken a turn for the worse since the military took control in February 2021. Fighting has increased across the country, and the Christian minority is bearing the brunt of these attacks. More Christians than ever have become internally displaced people or refugees and are living in camps or churches without adequate food and healthcare.”

Myanmar ranks 14th on the US Open Doors World Watch List 2023 of the top 50 countries where Christians are persecuted.

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