Tual Lian Mung (Tin Lin)
Myanmar has many ethnic groups and the civil between the
ethnic groups and government military has been going on since 1948 because the government
wants to take control over ethnic groups and made much damage to them. Myanmar
is one of the most ethnically diverse countries in the world with key
non-Burman ethnic groups demanding equality with the Burmans in the three
public realms, specifically the protection of ethnic culture, language, and
religion freedom.[1]
“When government forces attacked Mansi township in the
northern Kachin state on October 22 last year (properly in 2013), soldiers
fired 60mm mortars at civilian homes for an hour before storming the village.
Many of the thatched wooden buildings were burned to the ground.”[2]
Although there have undoubtedly been positive changes in
Burma and the government has worked towards ceasefire agreements with
organisations such as the Karen National Union (KNU), New Mon State Party
(NMST), Chin National Front (CNF), and Arakan Liberation Party (ALP), conflicts
have recently escalated in Kachin, Arakan and Shan States. The move to
transform the bilateral ceasefire agreements into a nationwide ceasefire still
remains unfulfilled. Furthermore, the Burmese army reportedly still continues
to commit serious abuses against civilians as recently reported by local and
international organisations such as ND-Burma, Physicians for Human Rights, and
Human Rights Watch.[3]
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Dictatorship like Burmese military regimes has become the
modern fascist of the 21st century. The people of Burma have been totally
controlled by the military junta with the ideology of totalitarianism. [4]
Since the government took control over the country, they changed education
system and economic system which brought poverty over millions of people. Education
became the place where government’s philosophies are taught without having any
quality. Large outlays of money have been spent on the military, while only
meager funds have gone to education and health issues. The numbers of children
who do not attend school or who have dropped out reportedly increased in the
1990s. According to World Bank estimates, only 46.9 percent of the secondary
school-age children were enrolled in schools during 1995.[5]
Buddhism is announced as as the country's official religion
and the right for other religions became limited and sometimes Christians are
persecuted in some areas where the media can’t reach.[6]
To respond to the government’s dictatorship, the ethnic groups have their own
militaries to fight against the government. Among those ethnic groups against the government, there are some
Christian groups who are also fighting against the government for their right.[7]
What does the Bible say?
There are many Bible verses which discuss about submitting
to human authority. According to the Bible, it seems that all governments in
any nation are appointed by God, particularly we can see it in Roman 13:1-2. It
is very important to have the right Biblical principles in order to respond to the human authority
according to God’s will. Many
Christian leaders in Myanmar seem to keep silent about political issues while
others are struggling for human right. I would like to know your ideas
and belief regarding Christian response to the abusive or corrupted government.
Biblical verses regarding Submission to human authority
Romans 13:1-2
Let every person be subject to the governing authorities.
For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been
instituted by God. Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God
has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment.
1 Peter 2:13-14
Be subject for the Lord's sake to every human institution,
whether it be to the emperor as supreme, or to governors as sent by him to
punish those who do evil and to praise those who do good.
Matthew 22:21
They said, “Caesar's.” Then he said to them, “Therefore
render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are
God's.”
Questions for Comments
1.
Should we submit to every government, even to
those who are abusing people with their power?
2.
What would you do if your people and family
members were continually abused in many ways by your government?
3.
How Should Christians respond to dictatorial government?
4.
What is your view on Christian being armed to
fight against the abusive government? (should they or not, why)
[1] http://www.conflictmap.org/conflict/myanmar_rebels
[2] http://www.ucanews.com/news/kachin-war-of-independence-is-a-test-of-faith/70493
[3] http://www.burmalink.org/background/burma/dynamics-of-ethnic-conflict/overview/
[4] http://www.myanmartodaynews.com/2011/05/02/burmese-military-regimes-as-a-totalitarianism/
[5] http://www.nationsencyclopedia.com/economies/Asia-and-the-Pacific/Burma-Myanmar-POVERTY-AND-WEALTH.html#ixzz39gqa2deK
[6] http://beginningandend.com/burma-passes-law-requiring-permit-read-bible/
[7] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internal_conflict_in_Burma#cite_note-16
