The UmBlog

If I asked you to name an Asian country ruled by an oppressive regime whose people suffer from chronic malnourishment and whose Christian population knows what "persecution" really means, chances are that your answer would be "North Korea." While that's a correct answer, there's another, even less-discussed one: the country formerly known as Burma, The Union of Myanmar . As Frontline documented last night, the biggest difference between the ruling junta and the gang in Pyongyang is that power in Burma is shared among a ruling military elite -- General Than Shwe's title is "Chairman of the State Peace and Development Council," not "beloved leader.".... Not that it makes any meaningful difference to the Burmese people: a police state is a police state, no matter what you call its head. And malnourished children -- a diagnosis that fits an estimated 40 percent of Burmese children -- are still malnourished children.

Partners is one missionary group I met last week with a focus on ... Our mission is to demonstrate God's love to victims of oppression and natural disaster... Refugees, internally displaced people, and victims of natural disaster are all on the partners radar. Special emphasis is given to women and children, who are most vulnerable in times of conflict and crisis. They bring supplies and hope and Jesus into the jungles of Burma... Legally, the junta is responsible for genocide against the ethnic minority groups. Rape is used as a weapon of war (an allegation upheld by the US State Department). Landmines are widely used - killing more people in Burma in 2002 than any other country in the world. Millions of Burmese have been pressed into forced labour - what the International Labor Organization, calls "a modern form of slavery". Even the former UN Special Rapporteur on Burma Mr. Rajsoomer Lallah QC, stated in 1998, '[I am] deeply concerned about the serious human rights...