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MY EXPERIENCE; RELIGIOUS PERSECUTIO
- Subject: MY EXPERIENCE; RELIGIOUS PERSECUTIO
- From: chinhro@xxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Sat, 11 Sep 1999 14:31:00
Subject: MY EXPERIENCE; RELIGIOUS PERSECUTION IN BURMA
Dear friends and fellow freedom lovers,
Below is a statement delivered by Rev. Dr. Chum Awi at the House of
Representatives, State Governrment Affairs Committee of Texas state on May 3
1999.
Rev. Dr. Chum Awi was principle of Zomi( Chin ) Theological College for 15
years (1977-1992) and General Secretary of Zomi ( Chin )Baptist Convention
ZBC (1992-1996). There are 900 Churches and 200,000 members in Zomi(Chin)
Baptist Convention ZBC. He was also EC member of Burma Council of Churches
and Burma Baptist Convention.He took B.A, LLB degree from Rangoon
University. He studied theology at Burma Institute of Theology, and got his
doctorate degree from Germany.
If you are interested to see how Chin Christians are treated by the Burmese
Military government,please visit Chin Human Rights Organization CHRO
Webpage at http//www.chro.org
Cheers,
Salai BawiLian
STATEMENT OF REVEREND DR. CHUM AWI BEFORE THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES STATE
GOVERNRMENT AFFAIRS COMMITTEE CONCERNING PERSECUTION OF CHRISTIANS IN BURMA.
MAY 3, 1999
THE TEXT: I AM FROM THE CHIN STATE IN NORTHWESTERN BURMA WHERE I LIVED ALL
OF MY LIFE UNTIL I WAS FORCED TO FLEE BECAUSE OF MY CHRISTIAN RELIGIOUS
WORK.AT THAT TIME, AS GENERAL SECRETARY OF ZOMI (CHIN) BAPTIST CONVENTION, I
WAS CHARGED WITH LEADING THE BAPTISTS OF CHIN STATE.
WELL OVER 90 PERCENT OF CHIN PEOPLE ARE CHRISTIAN THANKS TO THE MISSIONARY
WORK WHICH STARTED ONE HUNDRED YEARS AGO THIS YEAR BY THE AMERICAN
MISSIONARY, REVEREND ARTHUR CARSON AND HIS WIFE, LAURA. BURMA IS
PREDOMINANTLY A BUDDHIST COUNTRY, BUT IN THE CHIN STATE CHRISTIANS AND
BUDDHISTS HAVE A HISTORY OF LIVING PEACEFULLY SIDE BY SIDE.
THE MILITARY GOVERNMENT HAS CHANGED THAT. DISGUISING SECRET POLICE MONKS,IT
PERSECUTES CHRISTIANS AND MAKES US TURN OUR CHURCHES INTO PAGODAS.THIS IS
NOT THE WORK OF MONKS BUT OF MILITARY OFFICERS.
CHRISTIANS FACE RELIGIOUS PERSECUTION THROUGH FORCED LABOR, RAPE AND OTHER
MISTREATMENT OF WOMEN, FORCED RELOCATION, CONFISCATION OF OUR FOOD AND
MONEY, AND ARBITRARY ARREST FOLLOWED BY LONG-TERM IMPRISONMENT WITHOUT
TRIALS OR LEGAL REPRESENTATION. OUR CROSSES ON MOUNTAIN TOPS AND IN VILLAGES
HAVE BEEN TORN DOWN AND REPLACED WITH PAGODAS BUILT WITH CHRISTIAN FORCED
LABOR.
OUR CHILDREN HAVE BEEN KIDNAPPED UNDER THE GUISE OF SENDING THEM TO SCHOOL
IN RANGOON. IN FACT, HOWEVER, THEIR HEADS WERE SHAVED AND THEY WERE PUT INTO
BUDDHIST SCHOOLS FOR ASSIMILATION. PARENTS WERE WARNED NOT TO TRY TO FIND
THEM.
I WILL TELL YOU SOME OF MY PERSONAL EXPERIENCES.
IN 1996, A TRUCK DRIVER AND I WERE ARRESTED AS WE DROVE TOWARD HAKHA, THE
CAPITAL OF CHIN STATE, IN A TRUCK LOADED WITH PLANKS FOR THE CONSTRUCTIONOF
A MEMORIAL HALL FOR REVEREND CARSON. WE WERE THROWN IN CUSTODY FOR TWO
NIGHTS AND GIVEN STARVATION RATIONS. THEY WANTED TO KNOW WHAT WE WERE
BUILDING. WHEN WE TOLD THEM, THEY ACCUSED ME BEING A GO-BETWEEN FOR THE CHIN
NATIONAL FRONT AND THREATENED TO KILL US. MY LIFE WAS SPARED FOR THE MOMENT.
SOME OF MY PREDECESSORS WERE NOT FORTUNATE. IN 1993, REV. ZANG KHO LET AND
THREE OTHER EVANGELISTS WERE ARRESTED, INTERROGATED AND TORTURED AND THEN
KILLED BY A BURMESE ARMY UNIT. THE ZOMI (CHIN) BAPTIST CONVENTION AND THE
BURMA BAPTIST CONVENTION PROTESTED THIS BRUTALITY TO THEGOVERNMENT'S
MINISTRY OF RELIGION. THE ONLY RESPONSE WAS CLOSER SURVEILLANCE BY MILITARY
INTELLIGENCE OF ALL OUR ACTIVITIES.
ALSO IN 1993, 30 YOUNG VOLUNTEER EVANGELISTS SENT BY THE CHIN BAPTIST
CONVENTION TO PALETWA, A SOUTHERN CHIN STATE TOWN, WERE ARRESTED AND HELD
FOR FIVE DAYS WITHOUT FOOD, AND ONLY RELEASED WHEN THEY PROMISED NOT TO
PREACH IN THE TOWNSHIP.
THEN IN 1996, ONE OF OUR MOST RESPECTED PASTORS REV. DR. VAN BIK, WAS
ARRESTED AND INTERROGATED FOR TWO WEEKS BEFORE BEING RELEASED. A UNITED
NATIONS DEVELOPMENT OFFICIAL WITH WHOM I OFTEN WORKED ON DEVELOPMENT
PROJECTS WAS KILLED BRUTALLY ON HIS WAY BACK FROM THANTLANG TOWN TO HAKHA.
SHORTLY, THEREAFTER POLICE WENT TO THE HOME OF MY COLLEAGUE, REV. SALAI CEU
MANG, GENERAL SECRETARY OF CHIN ASSOCIATION FOR CHRISTIAN COMMUNICATION, TO
ARREST HIM. HE WENT UNDERGROUND IN RANGOON.
I RECEIVED A WARNING THAT IT WAS NO LONGER SAFE FOR ME TO CONTINUE
MYCHRISTIAN DUTIES, SO I HAD TO LEAVE AS WELL. NOW I GIVE PASTORAL SUPPORT
TO REFUGEES IN THIS COUNTRY AND BELIEVE THAT IT IS MY DUTY TO SPEAK OUT
ABOUT THE MISTREATMENT OF CHRISTIANS AND OTHER MINORITIES IN MY COUNTRY.THE
MILITARY DICTATORS IN BURMA SYSTEMATICALLY DENY RELIGIOUS FREEDOM AND
PERSECUTE PEOPLE WHO WANT TO LIVE IN PEACE AND PRACTICE THEIR FAITH.
I URGE THE STATE OF TEXAS NOT TO DO BUSINESS WITH THAT GOVERNMENT OR TO DO
BUSINESS WITH COMPANIES THAT DO BUSINESS WITH IT.THANK YOU.
CHUM AWI
----------------------------------------------------
The above statement was delivered before the House of RepresentativesState
Governrment Affairs Committee of Texas state, Austin, by Rev. Dr.Chum Awi on
the 3rd of May, 1999. It was intended to prohibit publicpurchases from
companies doing business in Burma (H.B. 1094).
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