� Church Closure Worrying: UK Christian Group

By Alison Hunter

Mizzima News (www.mizzima.com)

September 13, 2005

The United Kingdom based Christian Solidarity Worldwide has described the reported closure of the popular Full Gospel Assembly church in Rangoon as worrying.

Reports emerged last week that the church had been ordered by the authorities to cease all its activities including its weekly services.

Benedict Rogers, Research and Advocacy Officer, for the organisation’s South Asia office described the closure as a disturbing development in a pattern of religious persecution in the country.

“In general, religious persecution in Burma has been directed more intensely at Christians in the ethnic nationality states, in particular Chin, Kachin, Karen and Karenni. It is not, however, the first time churches in Rangoon have been closed.”

But some sources in Rangoon told Mizzima churches and Christian organisations in the capital who did not engage in political activities experienced little governmental interference.

The minister of a long-standing catholic church said, “Things here are normal and we have not had any problems. If all we do is worship and deal only with religion we have no problems,” he said adding that churches closed in the capital may have been targeted for their involvement in pro-democracy activities.

The Burmese military have a long history of engaging in religious persecution particularly among Christian and Muslim communities in several states and border areas.

� Church Closure Worrying: UK Christian Group