Last year, on 1 February, the Commander-in-Chief of Myanmar/Burma’s military launched a power grab in a brutal coup d’etat. Senior General Min Aung Hlaing ordered his troops to take over government buildings, arrest members of Parliament and reinstate direct military rule – rejecting the results of the November 2020 democratic elections. Why? Because he wanted to be President. And if he could not gain office by the ballot box, he would do so with bullets instead.

Min Aung Hlaing’s decision to seize power turned the clock back by more than a decade, reversing ten years of fragile democratisation.

Of course, that decade of reform was far from perfect – not least because it included the genocide of the Rohingyas. But nevertheless, it allowed some seeds of freedom to grow. It enabled the people of Myanmar to vote freely, and an overwhelming majority was won by Aung San Suu Kyi and her National League for Democracy (NLD) in both 2015 and 2020.

The power grab

The military (known as the Tatmadaw) already had significant power and influence under a power-sharing arrangement with the civilian government. For example, a quarter of parliamentary seats were reserved for the military, and they were able to thwart any changes that threatened their interests.

Yet Senior General Min Aung Hlaing still chose to overthrow the democratically-elected government, plunging the country into an appalling political, economic, humanitarian and human rights crisis.

Attacked with full force

The military clearly underestimated the scale of resistance to the coup. Having tasted some degree of freedom, the people of Myanmar did not want to return to the dark days of dictatorship. But in response, the Tatmadaw unleashed its full force against its own people. 

Most shocking has been the air strikes against civilians – breaking both international and Myanmar’s own laws. These attacks have been accompanied by appalling atrocities, including murder, torture and rape.

Many have lost everything they owned. According to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, at least 330,600 people have been forced to flee their homes – although this is likely to be a serious underestimate.

The religious element

Everyone in Myanmar is suffering the consequences of the coup, but it does seem that Christians have been targeted with particular intensity. Churches should be places of refuge, but several have been shelled and destroyed. At least five pastors have been murdered and four others jailed in Chin State alone.

Pastor Cung Biak Hum is just one example. He was shot dead by soldiers as he tried to help extinguish a blaze caused by artillery fire, which destroyed 19 homes.

Meanwhile Muslims – especially Rohingyas – continue to face grinding persecution at the hands of a military regime driven by extreme Burman Buddhist nationalism.

Provide a lifeline

As we reflect on the first anniversary of the coup, the world needs to wake up and do two things: cut the lifeline to the Tatmadaw and provide a lifeline to the people.

Many of you have been campaigning with us to cut the flow of weapons to Myanmar’s military, and we’ve seen some breakthroughs. But more must be done to enforce a global arms embargo.

So let us redouble our prayers and our efforts. Pray for those in prison, pray for the displaced, pray for the bereaved, pray for those in danger, pray for national leaders and for leaders across faith communities. Pray for the international community to act.

Pray for Myanmar

Using week 11 of the Prayer Diary. Join our efforts to press policymakers and parliamentarians to speak out: csw.org.uk/campaigns