NEWS - Myanmar Christians flee to

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Subject: NEWS -  Myanmar Christians flee to India alleging persecution

India-Myanmar
   Myanmar Christians flee to India alleging persecution
   
   GUWAHATI, India, Aug 20 (AFP) - More than 1,000 Christian tribals in 
Myanmar have fled across the border into India this month, alleging 
persecution by the military junta and Buddhist monks, church leaders
said 
Friday.
   The Naga tribals, mostly from eight villages in the Sagaing district
of 
northern Myanmar, crossed into the far northeastern Indian state of
Nagaland, 
according to Reverend Zhabu Terhuja, general secretary of the Nagaland
Baptist 
Church Council.
   "Buddhist monks aided by Myanmar soldiers have been forcing the
Christian 
Nagas residing in that country to convert to Buddhism," Terhuja told AFP
by 
telephone from the Naga capital Kohima.
   There are an estimated 20,000 Naga tribals in Myanmar.
   "Some Myanmarese Nagas are taking shelter in a border village called
Pangsa 
following alleged persecution by the army," said local police chief L.T.
Lotha.
   "But there is no law and order as such due to the exodus," Lothi
said.
   Church leaders said the Naga Christians were being forced to close
down 
their churches, which had then been desecrated or used as kitchens by
the 
Myanmar army.
   Reverend Bonny Resu, secretary general of the Asian Baptist
Federation said 
the issue had been taken up with the Myanmar Baptist Convention "so that
they 
can apprise the government about the reports of persecution."
   However, Buddhist leaders here questioned the validity of the
reports.
   "Even if your father or mother accepts another religion, being a son
you 
cannot force them to reconvert to Buddhism. So the question of
converting 
Christians to Buddhism by force does not arise," said Gyanpal Bhiku, a 
Buddhist monk and member of the Northeast Buddhist Federation.
   str/gh/kf