Amnesty International has called for the recent attack on a Christian church to be investigated as a war crime.
A humanitarian aid group has warned of a rise in violence against the persecuted Christian minority amid Myanmar’s bloody civil war. At the same time, there are signs of hope, says a project manager from Christian Solidarity International (CSI) told CNA DeutschCNA’s German-language news partner.
“Violence against Christian communities has increased enormously since the military regime ended the short-lived hybrid government agreement,” said Selina Biedermann, highlighting the dire situation of what the chief investigator of the UN for Myanmar has described as “systematic violence» following the 2021 coup d’état.
Biedermann detailed the growing repression faced by Christians, who are mostly from ethnic minorities like the Karen, Chin and Kayin.
“Like the Muslim Rohingya ethnic group, they are subject to cruel campaigns of ethnic cleansing,” she told CNA Deutsch.
Amnesty International has called that the recent attack on a Christian church be investigated as a war crime. The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) sentenced the army’s “indiscriminate” airstrikes against civilians on February 7.
Military junta steps up efforts to suppress opposition, UCA News reportedincluding the conscription of men aged 18 to 35 and women aged 18 to 27 into the armed forces.
This decision shows that the army is in retreat, ABC in Australia reported.
Cautious optimism
Biedermann highlighted the lack of attention from Western media, attributing it to the domination of other interests and conflicts overshadowing the Myanmar crisis, such as the war in Ukraine.
CSI’s work in Myanmar, particularly in the Sagaing region, involves providing humanitarian assistance and supporting long-term livelihood projects for internally displaced people.
Biedermann shared his cautiously optimistic hopes, citing behind-the-scenes efforts by world powers to pressure the military into negotiations.
“Over the past year, China and the United States have worked together to put pressure on Myanmar’s military dictatorship,” she revealed, suggesting the potential for peace if the military engages in honest political dialogue with ethnic minorities and pro-democracy groups.
As Voice of America reports, the exclusion of Myanmar – formerly known as Burma – from leadership of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) bloc in 2026 demonstrates international disapproval . Biedermann nevertheless stressed that increased pressure is essential for a democratic future.
“It is precisely this international pressure that urgently needs to be increased,” Biedermann concluded, calling for global action to support Myanmar’s path to democracy and inclusion.
