Burma’s largest Kachin faith group prays for freedom, not ceasefire

A MOTTO OF KACHIN BAPTIST CHURCH CAN BE SEEN IN KACHIN STATE'S CAPITAL MYITKYINA.

A MOTTO OF KACHIN BAPTIST CHURCH CAN BE SEEN IN KACHIN STATE'S CAPITAL MYITKYINA.

LAIZA, Burma— Burma’s Kachin Baptist Church organization held a special 24-hour prayer session at more than 300 churches earlier this week in reaction to the ongoing conflict underway in Kachin and northern Shan state.

According to worshipers the simultaneous prayer and fast did not call for a ceasefire between Burma's government and the Kachin Independence Organization (KIO) but instead requested political rights and freedom for the Kachin people.

Previously during similar prayer session KBC directed parishioners to pray for peace, the recent call to pray for freedom marks a shift in tone from the organization.

The prayer sessions which began at 6 on Monday morning were held throughout the entire Kachin Baptist Convention (KBC) network.  Churches in Kachin and Northern Shan states took part as well as Kachin Baptist churches in Burma's other major cities including Rangoon, according to those involved in the prayer sessions.  The entire Kachin Baptist network has an estimated following of 400,000 people across the country.

Related prayer sessions took place at the KIO’s defacto capital city Laiza and its second largest town Mai Ja Yang.  Worshipers at more than 40 refugee camps located in KIO controlled territory also took part in the 24-hour initiative.

“We have been praying for absolute sovereignty in Kachin State under the under the guidance of KBC”, said Rev. Lahpai Shing Rip, a pastor at Laiza's main Baptist church.
Since the outbreak of a conflict between the KIO and Burma's nominally civilian government in June of last year, many Kachin have been taking part in prayer sessions urging an end to the Kachin people's suffering.  Burma's Kachin population are overwhelmingly Christian, mostly Baptist, Catholic or evangelical.

A pastor at a refugee camp located inside KIO territory told the Kachin News Group, “In the past, we prayed for receiving power from the government and its leaders.  As we believe however all power comes from the Almighty we are now praying to God for Kachin freedom”.

Since the end of a 17-year ceasefire between the KIO and the Burmese government last June, more than 70,000 people have been forced from their homes in Kachin and northern Shan state.  The vast majority of the refugees have fled to KIO areas where the UN and large international NGO's have been largely unwilling or unable to go.