MYANMAR/BURMA: Karen Suffer in Military Activity Under Lockdown

Source: Christian Freedom International, September 16, 2020

The Burmese Military, called the Tatmadaw, has taken advantage of the pandemic lockdown to increase its military activities within the mostly Christian Karen communities.

Between January and June, Karen communities were warned that if they gather, they may face arrest and could increase the spread of COVID-19. Yet during that time the Tatmadaw performed large military operations to strengthen their army camps, conduct attacks, and set up more military posts. It also sent more soldiers and rations to camps and resumed constructing military road despite the opposition by the Karen National Union (KNU) and the local Karen populace.

The Tatmadaw presented the road construction activities as a development project that will benefit the local communities. However, the Karen National Union sees this project as part of a Tatmadaw strategy to extend its control over Karen areas, and therefore opposes it.

Locals complain that several parts of this construction go straight through farms, communities, and local hunting areas completely disrupting the Karen way of life.

According to a Karen Human Rights Group (KHRG) researcher, at least 207 skirmishes broke out between the Tatmadaw and the KNLA over the last six months as a result of Tatmadaw soldiers trespassing into Karen controlled territory in order to secure land for military road construction activities.

The Karen villagers are at high risk of collateral damage. There have been several civilian casualties, farmland burned, and village buildings destroyed including monuments and churches. One community reported that the fighting resulted in the displacement of 2,137 villagers, including 417 children under five years of age.

» Read full story.

» In other news from East Asia, a North Korean man who recently came to faith was arrested. A ministry leader working there believes he is in grave danger and asks us to pray for his release (Open Doors).

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