Rescue me, O Lord, from evil men;
protect me from men of violence,
who devise evil plans in their hearts
and stir up war every day.
They make their tongues as sharp as a
serpent’s;
the poison of vipers is on their lips.
– Psalm 140:1-3
This is the prayer that is being cried out in the war waging country of Burma. Not towards invaders or against the surrounding nations, but it’s own people. For the past 30 years Burma has been governed by the military. This government has purposely destroyed all peace and prosperity for it’s people. You see, Burma is rich in stones, oil, wood, metals, and it has been said that after heavy rains, it’s not uncommon to find tiny pieces of gold just lying on the river banks. The government of course is driven by greed and control over all. On top of all of this, Burma is one of the last pro-Buddhism countries left. They are waging war on all invaders of other beliefs. This includes Islam, traditional charmers, and of course Christianity.
When soldiers and officials come to the small villages, they demand things. Things such as food, animals, and beautiful young women. If you get in the way or refuse these demands, you are most likely put into prison if not killed right then and there. When in these prisons you’ll never be heard from again. That’s where you’ll remain the remainder of your life, rotting. Most people who are taken are never heard from again, no closer, no goodbyes, no idea of what happens to loved ones!
Many Burmese tribes and villagers run. They head over the borders into Nepal, Bangladesh, and India. They run not only for themselves, but for their families sake. There is no life left in Burma. There is no hope for a future there for it’s own people. In Thailand, there is a refugee camp with 70,000 people whom have escaped Burma. In India there is small population here in Delhi numbering around 3,500. These are who remain. Many get sent to other countries under refugee status after a few years of evaluation. Many go to Germany, England, Australia, United States, and Canada.
This week I have been blessed to meet some of the Burmese families who have fled their own country. Their country is supposed to care for and provide for them, and failed. These particular people whom I’ve been meeting in their small one room homes come from one of the Burmese states called Chin State. Chin State is locate on the Burma/India border. In the state there is force called C.N.A. which stands for Chin National Army. The C.N.A. is fighting for the freedom through a democratic government. Democracy has once won the elections, but of course was overruled by the military. Those who led that party were imprisoned and even killed.
So now the people of Chin State are caught between the two fighting forces. The C.N.A. demands annual taxes to fund it’s forces and the Government is commanding the people to not side with the rebel army. So you can see how the people have no choice in anything. They are used by both sides in force. And the people are and tortured and killed for things they cannot control. There is no freedom in Burma. And to top it all off there was recently a large cyclone that hit the coast of Burma. The government wouldn’t let any international aid into the country and the people suffer more.
The refugees that I have met also face many other problems. They are mocked and discriminated against daily. Many young men are constantly beaten by neighbours and landlords. The young women are often abducted off the street and pushed into taxis where they will be missing for a couple of days in order to be raped. The men have a hard time getting work or at least fair wage jobs that pay the bills. The women are always in fear as they cannot be at home alone because of thieves and tormentors. Many of these families aren’t complete. Fathers are left behind in prisons, children taken by the Burmese government to never be heard of again. One of the largest problems these people face right now is that door of freedom; the door of relocating to another country t live in peace. As the U.N. looks and reviews each case, they have the power to move these families with refugee status. After applying it may take up to 3 years to hear back. When a call is made, it may take months of saving up money just for the interview to prospective countries.
I have been crushed by these stories. I have been blessed by the heart that these people have for hope. They live in circumstances I’ve never been in myself. These people live in Burmese communities so they can look after one another. Some are home schooled so they don’t have to risk their children’s lives. They live in fear of not being able to trust anyone but themselves. I was welcomed in. I was offered food and drink. They each had a unique and different story. They wanted to hear me share from the Word of God. They wanted to know that someone actually did care for them.
In these communities I was able to visit, most people I came into contact with were believers. They met a couple times a week in a rented space to have church. Picture this; a community of outcast foreigners meeting in a rented space the size of a badminton court worshiping a God that none of the neighbors knows anything about. (Did I mention that there are 150 of them meeting in that church?)
I’ve once again been encouraged that there are people fighting for freedom here in India. The enemy has no hold on the church here. People understand what is at stake. It’s life and death out here. They know that they can be beat down, but not destroyed. The know that they can be persecuted, but not abandoned. That is what following Jesus is all about! Sometimes when things are nice and no-one challenges us in life, we forget what’s truly at stake!
