Message of Hope for 2008 from Partners Relief and Development

“When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice; but when the wicked beareth rule, the people mourn…Where there is no vision, the people perish”. Proverbs 29:2 &18(KJV)

Dear all,

As I look towards 2008, along with many others I am sure; I cannot help but look back over the past year and reflect.

Three months after the violent crackdown on peaceful demonstrators the international media attention on Burma has abated. The SPDC has made a claim that “normalcy” has returned. I agree that this is true. For many years the suppression of freedom and the systematic and widespread human rights violations undertaken by the hands of the Burma Army has been normal, everyday behaviour for this wicked and despotic regime.

A recent report from UNESCO (the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation) has named Burma as the Child Soldier capitol of the world, with now over 70,000 children enlisted as soldiers.

A prominent monastery in Rangoon which provided care for HIV/AIDS patients was forced to close at very short notice last month due to the leading role it played in the September demonstrations. It has also been reported that HIV/AIDS is increasing amongst Burma Army soldiers, who then continue to use rape as a weapon of war.

Burma is now ranked as the largest exporter of gas in Asia, and the 11th largest in the world. 13 international companies continue to work with the regime, including Total and Chevron. The revenue from gas exporting during 2006/7 equalled $2.03 billion. Just in case this wasn’t enough for them, a gem auction in November helped the junta raise another $150 million.

In October last year the UN Security Council issued its first ever formal statement on Burma, strongly condemning the crackdown that took place after the September demonstrations and calling on the military government to release political prisoners and cooperate with all other concerned parties to work towards a peaceful solution.

Apparently at the same time this statement was issued the junta were arresting, imprisoning and torturing non-violent protestors. There were rumours of civilians and monks being beaten and tortured in detention centres around Rangoon, some victims being left to die. There were reports of night time raids and arrests by security forces. There have been alleged rapes on both male and female detainees, including nuns.

The current SPDC Foreign Minister, Col Thant Shin made this statement; “Myanmar’s (Burma’s) current situation does not affect regional and international stability. We deeply regret that the UN Security Council has issued a statement contrary to the people’s desires”.

According to various human rights groups including Amnesty International, arbitrary arrests are still continuing unabated. 700 people who were arrested during and since the September demonstrations still remain behind bars.

What the regime does not seem to understand is that not everyone in the world is like them. The fact is not whether the situation in Burma affects international security, it is whether the situation in Burma goes against everything that is right, moral, ethical and good. We should not just make a stand if it affects our own safety, we should make a stand simply because it is wrong. And the people’s desire? Well, ask the tens of thousands of refugees living in Thailand, or the 1.5 million displaced people living in the jungles of Burma, or the tens of thousands who found their voice a few months ago and demonstrated throughout all the major cities and who have paid an incredibly high price for doing so. Ask them what their desire is. I have had the opportunity to speak to some of these people and I can tell you now, it certainly is not to see this wicked and brutal regime carry on in power. Their desire is freedom from fear, democracy and peace.

What kind of wickedness is at the root of the hearts of this junta? What can be done to stop them?

The UN Special Envoy, Ibrahim Gambari, failed in his mission to bring dialogue between the SPDC and NLD leader Aung San Suu Kyi. He is now apparently concerned that the demands he made to the Junta have not been heeded. South East Asian leaders see the situation within Burma as domestic and refuse to get involved. International leaders have voiced strong words, opinions and threats to the regime but unsurprisingly, they have fallen on deaf ears.

The bible tells us that “Our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” (Ephesians 6:12)

Worldly leaders have no authority over the spiritual forces of evil. Through God’s word I can see why the UN cannot bring lasting change, why the words of Prime Ministers and Presidents are just whispers in the wind and why no matter how many sanctions are placed or threatened wicked men continue to prosper.

During these last few months living on the Thai-Burma border I have learned that lasting change for a nation such as Burma can only occur through the outworking of the power of God. He is the only true bringer of freedom and peace. He is the one who has the authority over evil. And my responsibility is to obey His commands and allow Him to use me wherever I am. All of our activities in advocacy, relief and development are, of course, vital. God has called us to help the poor, feed the hungry and care for the widows and the orphans. He has called us to speak out for those who have no voice. He has commanded us to love our neighbour and to show mercy and love justice. But a quote from Nobel prize winner and human rights activist Pearl. S. Buck also goes through my mind; “To eat bread without hope is still slowly to starve to death.”

If we are not sharing the hope of Christ, if we are not praying for and guiding people into truth and salvation, then helping them just to survive one more day on earth is surely a fruitless exercise? I often wonder that if we really understood the power of prayer would we ever get up from our knees? We, the Bride of Christ, God’s chosen people have the message of hope that can change nations. The people of Burma need Christ. They need a vision and hope for their future, not just for here on earth but for eternity.

Sometimes there is a small part of me that wishes that I didn't know about Burma. A part that wishes it didn't have to see or hear about the awful human rights abuses that take place among the ethnic groups. A part that didn't have to look at the many hundreds of young smiling faces belonging to children who have no idea about their situation or the fact that the possibility of a decent future for them is almost non existent.

But then I remember what a privilege it is that God has seen me as worthy to call me to such a people. That he sees in me something worthwhile enough that maybe, just maybe I could make a difference. That somehow, an insignificant life such as mine could, through prayer and by His power bring light into the darkness, life where there is death and hope where there is despair. And I know that if He can use me, then He can use any of us.

I would like to set a challenge for all of us in 2008. Make a daily decision to pray for the people of Burma. Yes, pray that their needs would be met, pray that there would be political freedom and pray for the release of prisoners. But most importantly, pray for those who do not yet know Jesus Christ as their Lord and Saviour. Pray that they would find eternal peace. Pray that they would know the love of God that covers all fear. Pray that they would hear the message of hope that would change their lives forever.

With Blessings

Sarah Armitage

p.s. I would love to hear your responses to my ramblings in this email – I will add it as a discussion topic on the Partners group so feel free to comment.