Recent Actions:

	May 4, 2003 - Dr. Salai Tun Than and 17 other political prisoners were released from Insein prison. His release is believed to be the result of international pressure on the Burmese regime, especially after Tun Than's recent hunger strike (see below).
	April 27, 2003 - Dr. Salai Tun Than, a Christian political prisoner has begun a hunger strike to protest human rights abuses in Insein prison. Dr. Tun Than has been denied Holy Communion and is not allowed to have a Bible. He is also protesting the continued imprisonment of prisoners of conscience who have completed their sentences. (Free Burma Coalition)
	Ongoing – Many Christians from Burma’s minority groups are fleeing the country and seeking asylum in Thailand, India, and the US protectorate of Guam. Many refugees have been forcibly deported from India while the government of Thailand plans to repatriate all refugees within 3 years. Those in Guam are often held in custody for extended periods of time before receiving an asylum hearing.
	Ongoing – Forced labor continues to occur despite international outcry against this practice. Government forces have also been known to confiscate private property and demand tribute from the people. In one case several villages were ordered to give 150 cubic feet of wood per village as a punishment for having moved the villages 2 years prior. The wood was then sold and the money was pocketed by the military officer in charge.
	November 2002 - The Chin Human Rights Organization reported that Chin Christians in the village of Lentlang are being forced to help build a Buddhist pagoda. The SPDC has ordered Christians to provide labor and materials for the pagoda. However, the regime has denied permission for the building of any new Christian churches in Chin state since 1997.
	July 12, 2002 - In Matupi town authorities have been trying to tear down a 30-foot tall concrete cross just outside the village. The authorities have stopped the project to improve the town's water supply and refused to connect telephone lines until the local Christians tear down the cross. This is happening in other parts of Burma as well. Some Christians are being forced to tear down the crosses and in some cases are put in forced labor to build pagodas in their place. (Chin Human Rights Organization)
	May 30, 2002 - Burmese troops killed ten Karen people, including a pastor, one day after being ambushed by troops from the Karen Resistance group. Lt. Colonel Kye Sein ordered the killings, accusing the Karen people in Mukwa village of being part of the Karen Resistance group. (Jubilee Campaign)
	May 3-4, 2002 - Burmese troops attacked the Kho Kay and the Pau Kar Der refugee camps in Mu Traw District, northern Karen state. All of the houses and buildings in the Kho Kay camp were burned. At least 500 Karen people fled to neighboring Thailand. (Jubilee Campaign)
	April 5, 2002 - Two Chin pastors, along with 8 other family members, were arrested. Rev. That Ci and his son-in-law, Rev. Lian Za Dal, were taken to the Dagon North Police state and later transferred to the Insein prison on April 8. Rev. That Ci was charged with failing to register his daughter and son-in-law as guests in his home. However, That Ci had filed the necessary paperwork and had not received a reply. The real reason behind the arrest seems to be linked to both men's bold outreach to Buddhists in the Dagon North area. The whereabouts of the 8 other family members are unknown.
	March 2002 - The Burman Army continued its rampage against villages in northern Karen State, destroying another 11 villages in Papun and Nyaunglebin districts. Rice stocks were also destroyed in some instances in order to cut off the food supply. Villages destroyed in the most recent attack included: Kwee Tu, Kae Pa Hta, and Htoo Hta Loo (Papun) and Kaw Mu Der, Ler Per Kho, Kho Hser Der, Mee See, Kaw Hser, Saw Roh Kho and Thaw Keh Kho, and Loe Khi (Nyaunglebin). Saw Kyaw Htoo and Saw Moung They Htoo were shot and killed by soldiers. Around 1,000 have been displaced from their homes. (Jubilee Campaign)
	November 2001 - January 2002 - At least 18 villages in the districts of Papun and Nyaunglebin, Karen State, were burned and looted by the Burman army. Rice stocks were destroyed in several of the villages and at least six people were killed, including some who stepped on land mines. The attacked villages included: Keh Pa Hta, Htee Ler Baw Kee, Khaw Hta, Ta Lay Gaw Der, Kaw Mu Khi, K'Nayuang Mu Do, Maw Law Kaw, Lay Wah and Lay Po Kaw Hti (Papun District) and Htee Bla, Du Paw Lay, Naw Shwe Paw, Kayuk Paw, #3bde, #3 school village, Thay Ko, Chur Doh and Ho Loe (Nyaunglebin district). Those killed were Myeint Soe Thin, Pa Ta Roo, Saw Nobel, Po The Htoo and her two children. Several other people were tortured and still others disappeared. The village attacks also led to the displacement of around 2,000 people who fled their homes. Also, an entire village of 703 people was forcibly re-located. Many of the Karen people are Christians. (Jubilee Campaign)
	September 28, 2001 – More than 80 church buildings have been closed in the capital, Rangoon, 20 church buildings closed in the Shwe Pyi Tar township, all church buildings closed in the Hlaing Tai Yar township, the Agape Orphanage House and Agape Orphanage Ministry closed near Rangoon, and 17 ministers and 5 missionaries have gone into hiding since early July when an order called the “Higher Policy of the State Peace and Development Council” was issued. The order bans all Christians from meeting in buildings less than a century old. (CSW)
	July 20, 2001 – Pastor Gracy, 27, of Rinpi Baptist Church was sentenced to two years of hard labor for harboring Chin separatists. Chin Christians who know her state the charges are unjustified and she is being persecuted for her faith. On February 13 she was detained by Burmese soldiers and on July 6 she was sentenced at the Kalayawa hard labor camp.
	December 2000 – Christians in Chin State were told not to hold public Christmas celebrations by order of the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC). Those found to be violating this order would be arrested and forcibly taken as porters.
	July 10, 2000 – The Burmese Captain mentioned below (see July 7) ordered the closure of all Christian schools in Tamu township.
	July 7, 2000 – A Burmese captain forcefully entered a Seventh-Day Adventist church in the village of Tin-ka-ya and demanded evidence of legal permission for a school operated by the church. Though the elders of the church explained that they had been given permission in 1967, the Captain beat both U Htuang Kho Yan and U Htan Lein. After punching and kicking the two men, destroying various items, and cursing, the Captain arrested the two church leaders.
	June 2, 2000 – The Ah-ma-ka village in Sagaing Division was invaded by the military. Three churches, 63 homes, and 600 livestock were destroyed, causing over 300 people to become homeless. Most of the villagers are Christians belonging to the Chin ethnic group. The destruction of property was likely due to the Christians refusal to heed a warning issued in March 2000, which ordered them to vacate the village by June 2.
	June 2000 – SPDC officials in Tamu, Sagaing Division, ordered the burning of 16,000 Bibles written in ethnic languages.
	May-June 2000 – The Burmese army issued an order to stop all construction of Christian churches in Tiddim, Chin State.
	January 2000 – Authorities burned down the only school in the Ah-ma-ka village, leaving many Christian children without education.
	October 1999 – Buddhist leaders declared Christian radio a threat to their religion and published a report on how to rid the country of Christianity. The radio programs are broadcast by the Far East Broadcasting Company in the Philippines.
	June 1, 1999 — Seven Karen Christians were arrested for spying along the Thai border.
	March 1999 - The Chin people celebrated 100 years of Christianity existing in their culture. It is said that the Chin is almost 100% Christianized. This has led to a strong sense of jealousy and anger on the part of many militant Buddhists. Reports have been received that Buddhist monks backed by the military are being sent to Chin villages to attempt the conversion of the villagers "back" to Christianity. Villagers are then forced to build homes for the monks and support some of their daily needs. In addition, some of the Chin children are reportedly being sent to the capital Rangoon to receive a Buddhist education against their wishes.
	January, 1999 — The Chin people’s annual festival held January 1st - 3rd was strongly opposed by the military this year. A cross erected on a hill in Thantlang (western Chin state) was pulled down and destroyed by the military. Six Christian Chin leaders may have been arrested in connection with this. On the 6th of January, a meeting for prayer and fasting was held in response to the military’s action. The military then retaliated by cutting phone lines to the village involved and calling 20 of the Christian leaders in for interrogation. On the 9th they were informed that official permission from Rangoon would be required to erect a cross like the one in Thantlang.

	March 23, 1998– DKBA - 50 homes were burned in the Karen refugee camp in Maw Ker. 50 people were injured.
	March 15, 1998– DKBA - The Karen refugee camp at Mae La was shelled.
	March 11, 1998– DKBA - The Karen refugee camp at Wangkha was attacked by 200 armed men. There were four deaths and sixty casualties. 1300 houses were burnt down along with churches. hospitals, and a mosque.
	March 10, 1998– DKBA - The Karen refugee camp at Quake Lo was attacked. The village of 6,000 people was burned down and 30 people were killed.
	March 1998 – DKBA - There are also many accounts of people being taken and forced to serve as porters. The porters were poorly cared for and forced to work 8-10 hours a day for up to twenty days. Those porters who were unable to continue work were beaten and killed. In one case, men and women porters were kept separately at night and it is reported that rapes of the female porters by the soldiers were not uncommon.

Prisoners: ICC is not aware of any Christian prisoners at this time.