Prayer diary: Burma

In the past two years, some real signs of hope have emerged in Burma after decades of brutal military dictatorship. But theres a very long way to go before there is genuine freedom and peace.

Many political prisoners have been released, ceasefires have been established, and Burma’s democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi and her colleagues from her party now sit in parliament rather than in prison. But many people are saying that the reform process has “stalled”. And a dramatic rise in religious intolerance is casting a dark shadow over the nation.

Please pray…

• Pray for the democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi, for wisdom and protection as she navigates between negotiations with the government and public campaigning;
• Pray that the political reform process, widely recognised as having stalled, would get back on track;
• Ask God to end the devastating conflict and human rights violations in Kachin State, and against the Rohingya people;
• Pray for an end to hate speech, intolerance, discrimination and violence;
• Pray that the proposed legislation banning inter-faith marriage and restricting conversion would be stopped;
• Thank God for the work of civil society organisations, especially those working to counter hate speech;
• Thank God for Archbishop Charles Bo of Rangoon, and other church leaders speaking out for human rights and religious freedom.