Myanmar (Burma)

Key Facts:
Leader: Than Shwe
Population: 47.4 million (9% Christian)
Majority Religion: Buddhism
Type of Government: Military junta

Myanmar has been an oppressive military dictatorship since 1962, condemned globally for its abuse of human rights.

Its ruling regime, the State Peace and Development Council, is shaped by the nationalistic slogan "One race, one language, one religion".

Underlying the practice of the 'one religion' – Buddhism – Christians are systematically abused in a campaign of discrimination, restrictions and persecution, particularly those from ethnic minority groups.

Prayer

• Pray for strength for Burmese Christians to stand firm under the pressures to convert to Buddhism
• Pray for God's presence to be tangibly felt by Christians in the ethnic states, particularly Chin, Kachin, Karen and Karenni states, where they constitute a significant proportion of the population and suffer the most overt and violent persecution.