It has been over three years since Myanmar’s civilian government was overthrown in a military coup. The world’s attention was captivated by unfolding events in the Southeast Asian nation as resultant mass protests were violently suppressed by the junta, leading to the outbreak of civil war. Although less prominent in global news now, the country remains in a state of upheaval. INcontext contacted some friends involved in serving the Myanma people for firsthand insight.
In response to the coup d’état on 1 February 2021, Myanmar’s military was globally condemned for undermining the country’s democratic development and political, economic, and social stability, as well as threatening the stability of the region. Myanmar’s democracy was just shy of ten years old, and hard won after a long history of military rule. Many democratically elected leaders were arrested and imprisoned after the coup, including President Win Myint and State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi, and remain under house arrest or detained on multiple charges. The junta has again delayed promised elections and extended the imposed state of emergency. The economy has drastically deteriorated, while educational, civil, and medical services have been halted. Close to 20 million people (out of the total population of 55-60 million) are believed to be food insecure. The number of those internally displaced or fleeing the country is estimated to have reached 2.5 million people.
Although well equipped, there are signs of the junta (which officially titles itself the State Administrative Council), growing weaker as the war drags on. The political uprising following the February 2021 coup has led to the largest and most enduring resistance the country has seen, as previous revolutionary uprisings (such as 1988 and 2007) were overpowered with violent force. In an effort to boost its ranks, the junta has begun to enforce an old conscription law. This move has triggered a mass exodus of young men and women over the age of 18. This law could also drive more young people to join a people’s armed defence force or ethnic armed organisation. However, the resistance movement also faces growing challenges, including cohesion and co-ordination. Although Myanmar’s National Unity Government (NUG) – which helps coordinate the nationwide resistance – remains popular, there are many possibilities for division and some ethnic groups are moving away from its leadership. Analysts describe the current state of the conflict as having entered a new, more complicated phase.
A significant juncture in the war was marked by Operation 1027, which was launched in October last year by an alliance of ethnic insurgent forces. The campaign saw the successful capture of dozens of towns and several hundred junta outposts in the northern Shan state, including some important border crossings with China. This emboldened other opposition groups to carry out their own attacks against the junta in other areas. There have been several significant gains made by the resistance, but the military has also recovered many losses. The fighting has affected communities in multiple ways, from violence threatening lives and homes to blockades restricting access to basic needs and travel.
The current human rights situation in Myanmar is very concerning, adding to a long history of human rights abuses committed against certain ethnic minorities, such as the Rohingya. This people group, who call Rakhine state home, are stateless and largely looked down on in Myanmar. Sadly, they are also often unwelcome in many countries to which they flee from the targeted persecution they experience in Myanmar. However, we know of Christians who have been serving the Rohingya. Christians in Myanmar, who make up 8.35% of the population, also face persecution. Open Doors ranks Myanmar as 17th on the World Watch List for the level of Christian persecution observed in the majority Buddhist nation. They share that Christians have faced greater violence and tightened restrictions since the 2021 coup. In spite of this, our friends shared that God has been working in amazing ways through His Church during this time of war, along with other crises such as natural disasters.
“With no hope in the government, with Buddhism offering very little in the service to the practical needs of many, and with International NGOs blocked from giving aid, the church has rose up to serve their communities through delivering rice and other aid, offering trauma healing programs and sharing the hope of the Gospel to Buddhist and Animist communities that are in great despair. During this time of darkness, the churches that are active shine as a very bright light in contrast to everything around them. Because of this, Christian leaders tell us much larger numbers of Buddhists are coming to Jesus right now than in any other season in their lifetimes. Ethnic groups that have been persecutors are not only open to the gospel, but are responding in significant numbers over the past year.”
Similar to the division seen among the resistance, the Church in Myanmar has long been deeply divided. However, during this time of war, God has been building unity among many different groups in the Body of Christ in ways never seen before. Last year’s International Day of Prayer on 7 December started an ongoing online movement of united prayer among Myanma believers from 30 different denominations and ministries. The Church in Myanmar is preparing to play a leading role in forging reconciliation among the country’s 149 ethnic groups and the nation as a whole. The Church needs prayer to be victorious in walking in forgiveness and reconciliation among themselves first, and they require wisdom as they encourage reconciliation among all groups. They also ask for prayer as they trust for more churches to be planted in villages lacking established churches, both among the majority Burman people and other ‘unreached’ people groups. Gospel advancement in certain states such as Rakhine has historically been difficult, but there have been many breakthroughs more recently. There have been many testimonies of salvations, baptisms, forgiveness, healing, and deliverance from demons. Many villages have new believers but still need help to establish churches to disciple them. The global Church can thank the Lord for the work He is doing among the Myanma people and pray that He would continue to bring forth a great harvest of souls saved, redeemed and set apart for His glory, and that He would encourage believers to remain steadfast and faithful in their purpose and calling.
Please join us in praying for the following:
- For the Lord to provide for His children’s needs in this time of economic instability, and provide for churches to continue meeting the various needs of their communities
- For the Myanma Church to be filled with boldness to share the Gospel with those who do not know Christ and for God to make a way for churches to be planted in ‘unreached’ villages
- That the Church would walk in forgiveness and reconciliation with each other, being equipped to help different ethnic groups work towards reconciliation with one another
In addition to first-hand sources, other sources include ABC News (Australia), Reuters, Warographics, The Diplomat, France 24, Al Jazeera, BBC, Open Doors, and Joshua Project.
