Authorities in Burma have increased restrictions on Christian activity in certain areas.
The new guidelines in the Union of Myanmar (the official name of Burma) mean that several major churches in Rangoon will no longer be able to hold services. A ban on holding meetings in unauthorized facilities has been extended as well. Jerry Dykstra with Open Doors USA says persecution against Christians has been constant in Burma since the 1990s, and increased after last year's deadly Cyclone Nargis. "More Christians are being arrested," says Dykstra. "Of course we all remember what happened over there when they refused to allow any kind of organizations inside there to help [after the cyclone]. And we know that the persecution there is increasing....These poor people have been devastated, and this devastation is going to last for many, many years." On top of that, says Dykstra, Christians in Burma are being persecuted for their faith in Jesus Christ. "So it's really a double whammy," he says. The military junta in Burma promotes Buddhism at the expense of other religions.
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