by Karen Faulkner, Worthy News Correspondent
(Worthy News) - Myanmar continues to be wracked by the latest in a decades-long stream of civil wars, and the country’s Christians are facing a fresh wave of violent persecution from the Buddhist extremist Tatmadaw military dictatorship, International Christian Concern (ICC) reports.
After deposing Myanmar’s democratically elected government in a military coup in 2021, the Tatmadaw unleashed a violent campaign against anyone it considers a threat to its power, including not only pro-democracy forces but also minority faith groups and Christians in particular.
According to International Christian Concern sources, there has been a new element of military opposition to the Tatmadaw as several ethnic minority groups have now joined pro-democracy forces.
“This is the biggest challenge to the Tatmadaw’s control of the country since they led a coup in 2021 against the democratically elected government led by Aung San Suu Kyi,” ICC said. “This new wave of fighting is taking place across the country, particularly in Shan, Chin, Kayah, and Rakhine States.”
In trying to contain the opposition it faces, the Tatmadaw has continued its attacks on Christian communities. “ICC has received reports from locals that dozens of Christians have been attacked and killed at IDP camps,” ICC said in its report.
Buddhist majority Myanmar ranks 14th on the US Open Doors World Watch List 2023 of top 50 countries where Christians are persecuted.