Restrictions on the construction of churches and occasional incidents of violence against Christians are part of ongoing religious freedom abuses taking place in Myanmar, according to a new report from Christian Solidarity Worldwide.
Released those week, the report from the UK-based religious freedom advocacy states that while the international community is “now well aware of the genocide against the predominantly Muslim Rohingyas”, other religious groups have also faced persecution.
Cover of the report.
“Throughout Burma [Myanmar], Muslims who are not Rohingyas have been the targets of hate speech and violence, and Christians also face restrictions, discrimination and abuse,” the report, Burma’s Identity Crisis: How ethno-religious nationalism has led to religious intolerance, crimes against humanity and genocide, states. “Buddhists themselves who try to counter extremist Buddhist nationalism face dangers too.”
With regard to Christians, the report – which follows on from a 2007 report looking at the situation facing Christians in Myanmar and which uses the country name of Burma interchangeably with Myanmar – states that while there have been some symbolic improvements such as the appointment of an ethnic Chin Christian as the country’s Vice President and a relaxation of a ban on the construction of crosses in Chin state, “restrictions on the construction of churches, occasional incidents of violence against Christians, and the targeting of churches in Kachin areas as part of the armed confliict continue”.
The report, which is based on three years of research including repeated visits to the nation, states that Christians in Myanmar have been subject to intimidation and violence by ultra-nationalist state and non-state actors with those living in Buddhist majority areas particularly vulnerable.
Among violations, it says there has been “institutionalised discrimination” against Christians with restrictions on the construction and renovation of Christian buildings, and cites instances of forced conversions and attacks on churches as well as the forced expulsion of missionaries and assaults of Christian pastors and nursery workers. In Kachin state, where there is an ongoing conflict between the military and ethnic armed resistance groups, it says “targeted religious persecution against ethnic Kachin Christians and their religious practices continues today”. This includes sexual assaults and killings, the use of arbitrary detention and torture, and the destruction of churches.
Speaking at the launch of the report earlier this week, Benedict Rogers, CSW’s East Asia team leader, said the report shows that, “even if the severity and the scale may vary, throughout the country there is a campaign of ethno-religious nationalism that has led to hatred and fear essentially for all people; for Muslims, Christians and even Buddhists who dare to have the courage to challenge the Buddhist nationalist agenda.”
Kai Htang Lashi, of the Kachin National Organisation, told those at the report’s launch that the situation in predominantly Christian Kachin state was “worse than ever before in Kachin history” and that human rights violations had “become the norm” for the Kachin people.
The report calls for, among other things, the repeal and reform of discriminatory and repressive laws that restrict religious freedom as well as freedom of expression, freedom of peaceful assembly and other basic human rights, and the establishment of a commission to address religious discrimination in Myanmar’s government. It also called for greater action from the international community.
“If Burma is to have any hope of moving forward, religious intolerance must be confronted,” the report says. “Perpetrators of crimes against humanity must be held accountable, preachers of hate must be countered and brought to justice, and those brave civil society activists and few religious leaders who do try to defend freedom of religion or belief and promote inter-religious harmony must be supported.”
