Greetings,

March 10^th is the Global Day of Prayer for Burma.  It is an exciting but unsettling time for the people of Burma/Myanmar so never has the need for prayer been more acute.  Positive changes have occurred over the past months at a blistering pace and there is a feeling of hope for much of Burma that has long been absent.  At the same time, there is concern that the changes aren’t genuine or won’t last.  Whatever misgivings, most are acting on the changes, calling attention to ongoing problems, and taking advantage of opportunities as they appear.  Please join us in prayer on March 10^th.

In our recent trip to Thailand, while we were visiting the Mae Ra Mo Refugee Camp in Thailand, a meeting of Karen and Burmese government leaders was being held inside Burma.  A few days later, our group arrived in the town of Mae Sot, just as Pastor Robert Htway of the Karen Refugee Committee returned from this meeting.  I was able to meet briefly with him and he seemed upbeat and optimistic.  The result of the meeting was that a core group was selected to plan for a larger gathering of all Karen parties to come together by the end of March.  The purpose of the March meeting would be to form a unified voice among the Karen people to represent all the Karen to the Burma government as discussions for peace continue.  Perhaps symbolic of the challenge this represents, Pastor Robert said the first step was to call together the 5 armed groups among the Karen to seek their participation in the process.  Please be praying that unity can be achieved among the Karen.  If they cannot find unity among themselves, how can they achieve peace with the Burma government?  At the same time, praise God that this opportunity for unity and the potential for eventual peace is here after six decades of armed conflict!

Another indication of the precarious hold that reform has on the country is the ongoing conflict between the Kachin and the Burma army.  In spite of change in some parts of the country, fighting with the Kachin continues and has even escalated.  Tens of thousands Kachin are fleeing fighting and are becoming refugees.  The civilian government of Burma has asked the Burma army to stop attacking the Kachin on several occasions but still the fighting continues.  This raises questions about how supportive the army is of the changes taking place in the rest of Burma.  Another problem is the Muslim Rohingya population in western Burma.  Not accepted as legal residents of Burma or any other country, boatloads are being intercepted in Thai waters as they try to flee Burma and go to Malaysia.

Among the refugees still in the camps in Thailand there is concern that plans are being made to send them back to Burma without their input.  The agencies we spoke with assured us that no agency and no government feels that repatriation is imminent.  Most feel that if repatriation occurs it will happen in 4 – 6 years from now.  Many problems need to be solved first.  Much of the land the refugees used to call home has been given to others so for many, there is no home to which they may return.  Other former homes and fields have been land mined and are not usable.  There are also half a million or so displaced inside Burma that need permanent homes and a way to make a living before the refugees can be sent back.  So we pray the agencies and governments in control don’t get impatient and push the refugees back too soon.  We also pray that refugee voices are truly heard in the planning for repatriation.

Also while we were visiting in Thailand, the US government was giving a final call for applications among the registered refugees to come to the US for permanent resettlement.  Resettlement has been offered for several years now so the opportunity to apply for resettlement is coming to a close.  Those that have applied and are in process will still be eligible for resettlement but new applications won’t be accepted.  The refugees we spoke with in the camps did not seem too worried about the closing of the applications.  They did however, express concern that some have already been in process to go to the US for 3 years or more and they continue to meet with delays.  The other concern is that the Thai government has not allowed any new registrations since 2005 and only registered refugees can apply for resettlement.  Many who missed the 2005 registration and who arrived in the camps after 2005 would like to go to the US but are not able to do so.  It seems doubtful however, that the Thai government will allow any new registrations when there is so much talk about repatriating the refugees in the camp.

The influx of Chin to the US from Malaysia will likely continue as they work through the back log of people wanting to come.  We’ve seen recent reports of forced labor in Chin State so conditions still need to improve.

These are some of the issues regarding Burma and refugees we encountered on our recent visit.  Burma remains a country with complex issues and many questions.  At the same time, there seems to be new opportunities for the first time in many years.  Please remember to pray for Burma on March 10 and throughout the coming year.

Yours in Christ,

Duane & Marcia