Update: Burma’s Internally Displaced People

                 Long-term  Victims of "Ethnic Cleansing"

                                  (“Killing Season” 2006)

Burma’s military dictatorship has launched a new wave of attacks against predominantly Christian Karen villages. In Burma, this time of year is known locally as the “killing season” and this year is no exception. During the dry season, soldiers can move more easily in the dense jungles of Burma.  This year the military junta has stepped up its genocidal attacks on the Karen, an ethnic minority in Burma.  In an effort to survive, they flee their villages and hide in the jungle, or mountainside, or attempt to reach the rela-tive safety of the Burma-Thai border area or refugee camps on the Thai side.  I say “relative” because the army will pursue them to the border area. Moreover, they will attack them inside Thailand! 

Within hours of departing refugee camps the last couple of times I taught in their churches, the Burmese military attacked them. (Most camps have refugee-style, open air, thatched-roof churches.)  On one occasion the Burmese military lobbed artillery over the mountainous border area into the camp; on another occasion they raided the camp in the dead of night before burning it to the ground.  –Several refugees were killed and many thousands were displaced again – this time within Thailand’s borders!  

In our ongoing efforts to bring some relief to both our brethren and the lost among Burma’s Internally Displaced People, we recently sent clothing, medicine and medical supplies through the Karen Refugee Committee (KRC).

Pastor Robert heads the KRC.  -As such, he is the Officiial representative of Burmese refugees in Thailand to the Thai government.  My wife and I first met Pastor Robert

in 1987 and he is our long-time friend and an amazing brother in the Lord.  By the grace of God, Pastor Robert has shoulder-ed a terrible burden and responsibility for his Burmese breth-ren.  –Please pray for him as he is getting older and the burden is getting even harder to bear.

 

There are now over 15,500 people displaced in North, Northwestern and Western Karen State as the Burmese Army expands its attacks into Northern Karen State.

The Burmese Army battalions attacked  the village of The Boe Plaw, Muthraw District, N.  Karen State & burned 50 houses on 9 May 2006. 

One  Thousand IDPs Moved to Hiding Places Near the Yunzalin River.

There are also 1,000+ people in hiding from this attack. With this new number of people in hiding, the total number of displaced people due to this offensive is over 15,500.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

There are Now 1,000+ People in Hiding from This Attack.

The Army burned 50 more homes in  a  new attack  inMuthraw  Dist., Northern Karen State.

1) Toungoo District: 2,500 people displaced

2) Nyaunglebin District: Mon township, 5,000 people displaced Ler Doh town-ship 2,000 people displaced Hsaw Hti town-ship: 4,900 people displaced.

3) Muthraw District: Luthaw  township: 1,100 (including earlier attacks)  Total people displaced as of 10 May 2006: 15,500.  (Over 1,000 displaced people are not included in the count above as they have already fled to the Salween river and some of these have arrived at refugee camps).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Relocation People On the Move for Their Lives

 

The Effects of the Worsening Crisis in Burma:

1. First, the military junta continues to thwart the will of its own people as expressed in the 1990 election.

2. Second, the military junta has committed grave, systematic and widespread human-rights abuses against the Burmese people. Such abuses include the destruction of more than 2,700 villages since 1996, massive forced relocations, rape of ethnic minorities by gov't soldiiers, widespread forced labor and the use of more than 70,000 child

soldiers by the regime. 

                                                                    

3. Third, as a result of    these   abuses, more than 700,000 refugees have poured  out   of  Burma into       neighboring coun-tries, especially Thailand.

4. Fourth, Burma

is    one    of   the

world’s primary producers of heroin and amphetamine type stimulants. The trafficking and use of these drugs are of enormous concern to the international community and particularly to the region.

5. And finally, as a result of Burma’s status as the heroin supplier for the region, HIV strains that originated in Burma are now being spread to neighboring countries along the heroin routes, as a result of needle sharing.

 

Source: Thailand’s The Nation (Special report - Drum beats louder for UN action on Burma), 10 May 2006

 

PLEASE PRAY for the IDPs who are living being attacked and living in fear in the jungles on the Burma side of the Thai- Burma border.  Pray also for those who have crossed the border to Thailand to seek shelter in the refugee camps.  Pray for their safety and protection.  Pray for God’s provision upon them.  May they put their hope and trust in God especially during this time of sufferings.  Please also pray that Pastor Robert continues to have favor with the Thai government on the refugee’s behalf.

“As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.”                                                  Galatians 6:10

 

   THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRAYERS & SUPPORT!

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