On Thursdy 24 Feb 2010, the Karen Women’s Organization (KWO) released a report entitled “Walking Amongst Sharp Knives” (see: http://democracyforburma.wordpress.com/2010/02/25/walking-amongst-sharp-knives-by-karen-women/ ) in which they report horrendous attrocities committed by the Burmese military. According to the report, on one occasion, Burmese troops crucified Karen women before cutting their throats.
While the attrocity is horrendous in its own right, why would Burmese soldiers bother to crucify these women unless they were wanting to make a religious statement? Around 40 percent of all Karen are Christian. Ethnic and religious repression and persecution (long a reality in Burma) are escalating ahead of elections scheduled for later this year.
KWO’s report on horrifying abuse of women village chiefs
News - Mizzima News
Report by Usa Pichai
Thursday, 25 February 2010 16:06
http://www.bnionline.net/news/mizzima/7988-kwos-report-on-horrifying-abuse-of-women-village-chiefs.html
Report: Myanmar troops commit atrocities
By DENIS D. GRAY
24 Feb 2010
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/02/24/AR2010022404909.html24 Feb 2010
Burmese troops 'rape and murder' Karen women chiefs
25 Feb 2010
http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard/article-23809821-burmese-troops-rape-and-murder-karen-women-chiefs.do
See also:
International Tribunal on Crimes Against Women of Burma
http://www.nobelwomensinitiative.org/blogs/burmatribunal
Escalating repression
Anmesty International warns of increased repression of Burma's minorities before election
16 Feb 2010
http://www1.voanews.com/english/news/asia/Amnesty-International-Warns-of-Increased-Repression-of-Burmas-Minorities-Before-Election-84475707.html
AI report:
Document - Myanmar: The repression of ethnic minority activists in Myanmar
16 Feb 2010
http://www.amnesty.org/en/library/asset/ASA16/001/2010/en/183ebaaa-6f76-4d61-952b-8555034d56fd/asa160012010en.html
see particularly:
4.2 Oppression of [Christian] religion and ethnic minority identity among the Kachin, Karen, and Chin
Ethnic Chin flee persecution in Burma
Dr Graham Thom, Refugee Coordinator 5 February 2010, 12:26PM
http://www.amnesty.org.au/refugees/comments/22494/
Civil war could be imminent
Burma's Kachin army prepares for civil war
22 Feb 2010
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/8528985.stm
BACKGROUND
Ethnic Kachin Christians live under duress
11 Dec 2008
http://www.kachinnews.com/Feature/Ethnic-Kachin-Christians-live-under-duress-feature.html
World Directory of Minorities and Indigenous Peoples - Myanmar/Burma : Kachin (2008)
http://www.unhcr.org/refworld/topic,463af2212,469f2cd92,49749cdec,0.html
ALSO
Christian Solidarity Worldwide
http://dynamic.csw.org.uk/country.asp?s=id&urn=Burma
in particular:
Carrying the cross 23 Jan 2007
http://dynamic.csw.org.uk/article.asp?t=report&id=36
