By Salai Za Uk Ling
MYANMAR – In 2015, as the world celebrated Myanmar’s seemingly democratic shift, United States Ambassador Derek Mitchell made a historic visit to Chin State, a remote region bordering India.
It was the first time a US official of such rank had set foot in the area since Myanmar gained independence from Britain in 1948.
While the visit marked an important moment for US-Myanmar relations, its significance was even greater for the people of Chin State, a predominantly Christian ethnic group that has endured decades of state-sanctioned discrimination and persecution.
For the Chin people, this visit from an American ambassador was deeply symbolic. Their ties to American Christianity run deep, dating back to the early 1900s when missionaries from the American Baptist Mission arrived in the region.
My maternal grandfather, Sia Khaw, was among the first to be baptized in 1906, in the town of Hakha, which is now the capital of Chin State. This connection between the Chin people and American Christians has been a source of spiritual strength for generations. But today, we need more than spiritual solidarity — we need action.
In 2017, US Ambassador Scot Marciel followed in Mitchell’s footsteps, visiting Chin State to show solidarity with the Christian communities there.
He visited symbolic sites like Prayer Mountain, where the government attempted to destroy a giant cross, and the Missionary Tomb, where the first American Baptist missionary, Arthur E. Carson, is buried alongside my grandfather.
These gestures were important, but they pale in comparison to the persecution that Christians in Myanmar continue to endure.
Religious minorities, especially Christians, have long suffered under Myanmar’s military regimes. Over the decades, state institutions have become mechanisms of discrimination, embedding these policies into the fabric of society.
For ethnic and religious minorities like the Chin, persecution is not just a product of military rule; it has become a normalized part of life.
Since the military coup in 2021, this persecution has reached a horrifying new level. The junta has unleashed brutal violence on Chin State, where over 90 percent of the population is Christian.
Entire towns have been destroyed, and thousands have been forced to flee. My hometown of Thantlang has been reduced to ashes through relentless bombings and arson.
Over 70,000 people from Chin State have sought refuge in India, while countless others remain displaced. More than 4,000 homes and over 100 churches and religious sites have been destroyed.
Many Christian leaders have been arrested, tortured, disappeared, or killed.
These actions are not just attacks on our homes and churches; they are war crimes and crimes against humanity.
For over 25 years, I have worked with the Chin Human Rights Organization to advocate for religious freedom in Myanmar. I have testified before the United Nations, the European Parliament, and other international bodies about the persecution of Christians and other religious minorities.
Yet, despite the global awareness of our plight, there has been little meaningful action.
For 24 consecutive years, the US has designated Myanmar a “Country of Particular Concern” for severe violations of religious freedom. Yet, this designation has not translated into tangible support for persecuted minorities.
Even the passage of the 2023 Burma Act by the US Congress has not brought the urgent action needed to stop the suffering. In response to the slow and ineffective US response, a group of influential lawmakers, led by Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, recently wrote to President Biden’s administration, urging more decisive action.
While we await greater government action, American Christians’ silence has been deafening. The historical bond between American Baptists and the Chin people should be a call to action for Christians worldwide.
Our faith communities share more than a spiritual history — we share a responsibility to stand with one another in times of need. The time has come for American Christians to do more than offer prayers. We need moral, political, and material support.
The suffering of Myanmar’s Christians, particularly in Chin State, is not just a local issue — it is a crisis of global religious freedom. We need solidarity from our Christian brothers and sisters in America and around the world. We need your voices to amplify our cries for justice. We need your advocacy to pressure governments to act. And we need your support to help rebuild our communities and protect our faith.
Prayers are powerful, but we also need concrete action in the face of such immense suffering. Now more than ever, Myanmar’s Christians need your solidarity. Let us not allow the bond between our communities to fade into history. Let it be a living, active force for justice and peace. – UCA News
