The brutal war in Myanmar has destroyed countless Christian communities, killing thousands, and forcing tens of thousands to flee for their lives. Civilians bear the brunt of the military’s violence that has led to mass displacement and violations of human rights.
ESCAPING THE VIOLENCE
Pastor Yang* points to a sheet of tarpaulin stretched over a simple wooden frame. Its dark green colour blends into the jungle’s vegetation making it difficult for bombers to spot from above. Fraying tears mark it like battle scars.
It’s not warm or strong. It doesn’t feel dependable, like bricks and mortar. But when Pastor Yang and his family flee from airstrikes and gunfire, it’s all they have for a roof over their heads.
“Whenever we run in the forest, we just make this type of tarpaulin,” he explains. “If they see it, they will bomb it again.”
By “they” he means the military antagonists driving Myanmar’s latest coup—a takeover that has caused nothing but misery since it started in 2021. Innocent civilians have been subjected to horrific attacks, killings, and mass displacement in a litany of destruction that includes countless Christian communities. Many believers have been killed and tens of thousands forced to flee.
“It is only because of God’s protection that we are still alive,” Pastor Yang reflects.
A BRIEF HISTORY OF CONFLICT
Conflict in Myanmar—once called Burma—began in 1948 immediately after their independence from British rule. The country then experienced a short period of democracy until1962 when the military took control again and declared a coup. This lasted 26 years during which conflicts between ethnic minority groups and the military grew. In 1988, the military dictator, Ne Win, stepped down, sparking mass pro-democracy protests out of which the National League of Democracy (NLD) was formed.
The military brutally suppressed the NLD movement, leading to the deaths of thousands and innumerable human rights violations. This was a 23-year rule from 1988 to 2011 during which the first multi-party elections took place. Despite the NLD winning by a landslide, the military refused to relinquish control.
In 2015, the NLD won another landslide victory and their governance, though short lived, saw Myanmar prosper through economic growth, increased foreign investment, and improved civil liberties. This lasted only until 2021, when the military gained control yet again, perpetrating countless human rights abuses and killing thousands upon thousands.
This same military rule stands today and aims to make Buddhism an integral party of national identity. It also promotes the idea that Christianity is a foreign religion, which has led to anti-Christian feelings in many communities, increasing the number of violent incidents against believers.
THE GOD WHO SUSTAINS US
Before the coup, Christians in Myanmar were deliberately hindered from worshipping together and holding events. After the coup was enforced, churches and Christian communities were targeted with extreme prejudice, killing thousands and displacing many more.
Pastor Yang has moved his family several times to protect them, but there’s nowhere to hide—no place to rest and finally call home. Like him, most of Myanmar’s citizens never feel safe. Chaos is everywhere. He has been harassed, intimidated, and subjected to violence. Soldiers have questioned him at gunpoint.
“Since the coup, our lives have been incredibly tough; we have had to live amidst the sounds of gunfire and bomb explosions,” Pastor Yang says heavily. “All this deeply traumatised my wife. She was extremely terrified whenever she heard explosions at night; she also developed heart problems because of this. My children fear the loud sounds and noises. As a husband and a father, sometimes I feel helpless that I cannot make my own family feel safe.”
And yet, he is certain that God is at work in his life, even when everything around him has been marred by violence. It’s because of God they are still alive.
“There is a God that can do everything,” Pastor Yang says confidently. “God is showing us that He is with us, and He is still sustaining us. He has kept us safe until now, and we are still able to serve Him.”
*Name changed for security purposes
