Myanmarese Christian refugees take shelter in India; allege persecution by junta

Myanmarese Christian refugees settled in Mizoram have accused the military rule of Junta complaining of religious persecution and alleged that it desecrated churches and molested women.

"I could bear everything else, but abusing my religion (Christianity) was the only one thing I could not tolerate. The military even pulled down churches and forced us to erect statues of the Buddha," Thanga, a Myanmarese refugee in Mizoram, said.

"We had no other choice but to run away and take shelter in Mizoram. We were threatened, abused and our women molested," he added.

Lalpianthang, originally from the Chin state in Myanmar and now settled in Aizawl, has similar woes.

"Before I came to Mizoram, my life in the Chin Hills was a living hell. Every day, I had to think of one way or the other how to avoid the ruthless hands of the military men. Here it is like a heaven for us, compared to our life in Myanmar," she said.

According to World Wide Religious News (WWRN), there are an estimated 20,000 Chin refugees in Mizoram. The Chin community belongs to the same ethnic stock as the Mizos of Mizoram.

An Aizawl based rights group, "Zo Reunification Organisation", who help refugees return to their homeland and strives to restore democracy in Myanmar, said it was behind the Chin people.

"The Chin people could be asked to return only if Myanmar has a democratic government. The Chin people are our brothers and sisters and they count on us for our support," said Lalmuanpuia Punte, general secretary of the Organisation, quoted WWRN.

For 40 years, Myanmar has been ruled by a brutal military regime that resists and represses movements for democratic change. Leading opposition leaders such as Nobel–prize winner Aung San Suu Kyi and U Win Tin, have been arrested and jailed.

Meanwhile, the pope and Christian leaders worldwide have appealed for a peaceful solution in the country