Multiple
reports from around Myanmar indicate that the military junta ruling the
country bombed civilians as they scrambled to recover from a
devastating 7.7 magnitude earthquake that struck the country Friday.
Military
planes bombed northern Shan state less than three hours after the
earthquake, according to reports, with more strikes following soon after
in Karen State, the quake’s epicenter Sagaing, and in areas close to
the Thai border.
In
contrast, the National Unity Government—which opposes the
junta—announced that its militia forces would immediately begin a
two-week pause in areas impacted by the earthquake to facilitate
humanitarian activities.
The
fact that the military, known locally as the Tatmadaw, would bomb
civilians while they were working to rescue each other from the rubble
of an earthquake, is “nothing short of incredible,” Tom Andrews, the UN
Special Rapporteur on Human Rights, told the BBC.
“Anyone
who has influence on the [Tatmadaw],” he said, “needs to step up the
pressure and make it very clear that this is not acceptable."
China
and Russia, longtime allies of the Tatmadaw, have helped to provide
emergency relief services in the wake of the earthquake but have not
commented on the bombings. Despite sweeping international sanctions,
both countries have supplied consistent military and economic support
for the Tatmadaw.
The
United States recently cut back on assistance and development aid to
Myanmar as part of broader cuts to international aid. Reports indicate
that it has not matched China and Russia’s emergency relief assistance
since the earthquake. Last week, though, the U.S. Commission on
International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) released a report
criticizing the country for its systematic repression of religious
minorities and urged the international community to increase attention
to the plight of the persecuted in Myanmar.
Ongoing Displacement and the Plight of Religious Minorities
“The
country has seen the displacement of over 3.5 million people in recent
years,” the USCIRF report noted, “including more than 90,000 in
Christian-majority Chin State, 237,200 in Kachin State, and one million
Muslim-majority Rohingya refugees” Last week’s earthquake, and the
airstrikes that followed, have only increased these high levels of
displacement.
Though
a strong majority of the population is ethnic Burman and an even
greater percentage is Buddhist, the communities that make up the
remainder are well-established, well-organized, and, for the most part,
predate the formation of the modern state by centuries.
In
many cases, Myanmar’s ethnic minorities have also taken on a distinct
religious identity. About 20-30% of ethnic Karen are Christians, while
other groups, such as the Chin, are over 90% Christian. This overlap of
ethnic and religious identity has created a volatile situation for
believers.
Historical Violence Against Ethnic and Religious Minorities
Representing
an extremist interpretation of Buddhism, the Burmese military has a
long history of violence against the people of Myanmar, including
against ethnic and religious minorities like the Muslim-majority
Rohingya and Christian-majority Chin.
The
junta is known to abduct children, forcing them to walk ahead of their
troops through minefields. In many cases, their victims are members of
ethnic and religious minority communities fighting back against the
atrocities of a military that has waged a decades-long war of ethnic and
religious cleansing.
Despite
this support, experts believe that the Burmese military is atrophying
rapidly, with as few as 150,000 personnel remaining after the loss of
about 21,000 through casualties or desertions since the 2021 coup. This
number is significantly smaller than previous estimates of
300,000-400,000 and calls into question the junta’s ability to sustain
its nationwide military campaign, especially after a series of
high-profile losses in recent years.”
How ICC Is Responding to the Crisis
Less
than two weeks before the devastating earthquake, an International
Christian Concern (ICC) staffer visited the country to address
conditions for local Christians and foreign workers amid the ongoing
instability. While the findings painted a grim picture of widespread
displacement, corruption, and strained infrastructure, what stood out
was the resilience of the church and its believers, who remain steadfast
in their faith despite the mounting challenges.
"I've
contacted friends and local contacts to check on them since the
earthquakes. They've talked about the huge devastation in Mandalay, with
recovery efforts slowly working through the rubble and damage," said an
ICC staffer in Southeast Asia. "The impact is huge across the country,
too. Those I've contacted asked for continual prayers for local teams
helping with recovery and for their country. Given their plight, one
local pastor even selflessly asked if I had prayer requests myself. This
shows the strong faith of the believers despite the obstacles. I've
also contacted different Christian friends and contacts in Thailand to
see how we can pray and help by God's grace."
ICC will continue to monitor the situation and explore ways to support recovery efforts.
