Christian Institutions Ordered To Close Down In Rangoon

Van Biak Thang

Chinland Guardian

28 February, 2009

At least three Bible colleges and two orphanages have been ordered to shut down by the local SPDC authorities in Mingalardone Township, Rangoon, the former capital of Burma, Chinland Guardian has learned.

In a letter issued on 24 February 2009 to orphanages and colleges, Chairman of the local SPDC asked the institutions to stop running if they do not possess the official permission and registration. Sources confirmed that one of the colleges has been ordered to close down even though it has got an official registration since 1970s.

The local SPDC authorities accused that the colleges do not have permission from the government and that the place and building are not meant for religious activities. A Chin pastor and activist, Rev. Shwekey Hoipang said: "As we all have already known, most of the churches, mission organisations, orphanages and para-churches have been closed and sealed recently by the military regime. It is an ongoing crackdown on Christian growth in Burma and is a careful strategy and plan of the regime."

Sources claimed that the SPDC authorities carry out their repressive crackdown from one township to another, targeting Christians and their activities in Rangoon and that it is likely that this will soon go beyond the former capital city throughout the whole country.

The unnamed founder of one orphanage is said to be downhearted and very much concerned about his orphan children after the local authorities issued an order to send them back to places where they came from.

Since December 2008, more than 100 churches in Rangoon's South Dagon and Pabedan townships have been shut down, about 50 pastors forced to sign the documents promising to stop holding church services, and 80 per cent of churches in Rangoon affected, according to a report by Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW).

Some local Christians believe that the immediate cause of the oppressive measures is church involvement in relief provision for victims of Cyclone Nargis.

In 2004, Chin Human Rights Organisation (CHRO) published a report 'Religious Persecution: a Campaign of Ethnocide against Chin Christians in Burma' which revealed the military regime’s systematic persecutions against Chin Christians as part of a program to Burmanzie the Chin people and various acts of ethnocide against Chin Christians by trying to destroy the Chin religious and cultural identity.

Cultivation allowed only after paying tax to Burmese Army

Khonumthung News

25 February 2009

The Burmese Army authorities are not providing permission to clear forests and sow rice saplings without taking tax from the people in Chin state western Myanmar.

A report said that the Matupi based IB (304) has ordered all farmers to pay tax for rice cultivation to the tune of Kyat 20,000 per land as the military has already occupied the particular stretch in Ngala block.

“The land belonged to our ancestors. But the military has seized it and added it to its territory as it was very close to their camp. They came up with an excuse that their camp would be burnt if farmers set fire bushes to clean the area to sow rice seeds,” said a local.

The settlers in Ngala block had already cleared over100 acres of the forest in January, but the

military stopped them and asked them to pay tax first before cultivation.

In Chin state, people are totally dependent on rice as it is their staple food. Now they are facing the problem of paying tax – money or rice -- to the authorities of the Matupi based military. They cannot survive without cultivating rice, he added.

“The farmers do not have any rights without paying the tax. So we give all we have, whatever they demand from us,” he added.

Similarly, the Forest Department in Falam has collected Kyat 2000 an acre from Auhmun, Palte, Laizawl, Tilum and Lumte villages as land and wood taxes in the first month of this year.

A report said that the Falam District Peace and Development Council (DPDC) had told the Forest and Revenue Departments not to collect taxes on land and wood in 2008. But the collection continues in some villages, located far from the town.

UNHCR Asked To Verify Status First Before Issuing Refugee Cards

KUALA LUMPUR, 

Feb 19 (Bernama)

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) was on Thursday urged to

verify the actual status of people seeking asylum in Malaysia before issuing them refugee cards.

Home Minister Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar said this was to prevent indiscriminate issuing of refugee status that caused the country to be flooded with foreigners.

"Actually, those eligible to receive the card are political refugees. But the UNHCR likes to issue it to whoever asks for its help, including economic refugees.

"My ministry hopes the UNHCR will evaluate the people seeking refugee status before issuing the cards. We do not want crime and social problems to proliferate here because of the actions of the UNHCR," he told reporters after holding a meeting on the hiring of foreign workers for employers here.

Syed Hamid said this in commenting on the issue of illegal immigrants flooding the country and the crime and social problems that arise as a result.

He also said the UNHCR often faulted the Home Ministry when the authorities took action against UNHCR refugees who committed crimes or broke the country's laws.

"I hope the UNHCR as professional body will act according to the UN Charter.”