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Burma has around 4 million Christians (9% of the total population). Most Christians are members of the non-Burman ethnic minorities, such as the Chin and Karen. The military junta supports the largest ethnic group, the Burman, and persecutes others severely. It also makes use of Buddhism, the majority faith, as a weapon against Christians. Christians find themselves persecuted partly for their ethnicity and partly for their faith.
One of the main methods of oppression is the destruction or compulsory relocation of whole villages, and the seizing of their people for forced labour. Church buildings are often the first to be attacked, and they are targeted in cities too. The army sometimes requires Christians to do forced labour on Sundays or on Christian festivals. In Chin State Buddhist monks are sent into towns and villages to rule over them, and they report any disobedience to the army. Inducements are offered to Christians to convert to Buddhism, and then to convert others. Christian children may be lured away from their families and forced to train as Buddhist monks. The printing of Bibles is forbidden, and smuggled copies may be seized and burned.
In May 2008 Cyclone Nargis struck Burma and devastated a large area, killing tens of thousands. The ruling military junta was eventually persuaded by international pressure to ease restrictions on international aid, but Christians in some areas were still denied assistance.
