Release International

More than 2,000 ethnic minority Karen have been forced to abandon their villages and go into hiding following attacks by the Burmese army.

Troops have been shooting at villagers in Karen state in eastern Burma in a spate of attacks which began in mid-January, according to Christian Solidarity Worldwide.

One person was found decapitated and at least four villagers were shot during recent raids on Keh Der, Hti Aw Top and Kaw Htoo Toe. Several Christian properties were burned.

Burma's military junta has long persecuted the country's ethnic minorities as part of its campaign to promote Buddhism and impose a blanket national identity. Many of Burma's ethnic minorities, however, have campaigned for greater autonomy and are seen as a threat to national stability. Two of the largest minority groups – the Karen and the Chin – are predominantly Christian, so religious persecution has become a weapon of war.

Parts of Karen state apparently now fall within the so-called 'Black Zone', an area which the army considers to be under the control of armed resistance groups and where soldiers are instructed to shoot on sight. The junta has been launching indiscriminate attacks to take control of villages, according to sources for Compass Direct news agency.

Some observers believe that persecution of Burma's minorities will intensify in the run-up to the country's first parliamentary elections in two decades, scheduled for later this year.

(Sources: Christian Solidarity Worldwide, Compass Direct, Mizzima News)

• Pray for the thousands of displaced people within Burma and along its borders. An estimated 140,000 Karen people are thought to have fled to Thailand.
• Pray that greater democracy and religious freedom will result from the election.

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