Hybrid Congressional Briefing – Rising Persecution of Christians and the Humanitarian Fallout – Hosted by Rep. Chris Smith
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Description
January 26, 2024
INVITATION: HYBRID CONGRESSIONAL BRIEFING hosted by Rep. Chris Smith, Chairman of the Subcommittee on Foreign Affairs
BURMA: Rising Persecution of Christians and the Humanitarian Fallout.
Date: Monday, January 29, 2024
Time: 12:30 PM – 1:30 PM (EST).
Location: Rayburn House Office Building (Room 2200), 45 Independence Ave SW, Washington, DC 20515
RSVP: Register Here (Lunch will be served)
Since the Burmese military coup in February 2021, the Tatmadaw has increased its persecution of Christians across Burma by burning churches and targeting pastors and other religious leaders for arrest, arbitrary detention, imprisonment, and killing. Minority Christians represent just 6.2 percent of the 57.5 million people in Burma. As of January 15, 2024, UNHCR estimates that 2.28 million people have been displaced within Burma and 60,500 are seeking refuge in neighboring countries such as India since the coup. This briefing aims to highlight the atrocities against Christians and urge the Congress and the Administration to do more to hold the Tatmadaw accountable and increase humanitarian aid. The Chin Association of Maryland (CAM) will release two reports at the briefing: CAM’s Annual Report focused on the persecution of Christians in Burma and CAM’s Public Health on the Indo-Burma Border report.
Opening Remarks
- Chris Smith, Chairman of the Subcommittee on Foreign Affairs
- Frederick A. Davie, Vice Chair, US Commission on International Religious Freedom
- Bishop A. Elias Zaidan, Chairman, Committee on International Justice and Peace, U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops
- U Aung Kyi Nyunt, Chairman, Committee Representing Pyithu Hluttaw (CRPH), Burma
Panel I: Rising Persecution of Christians
Panelists:
- Dr. Robin Stoops, Associate General Secretary, American Baptist Churches USA
- Tim Siemens, CAM Board Chairman
- Fr. Peter Dee De, Pastor of the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, Fort Wayne, IN; Rebecca Maw, sister of the imprisoned pastor, Indianapolis, IN; Rev. Sang Hre, Pastor of the Chin Christian Church, Indianapolis, IN, and Rev. Ah Le, General Secretary, Kachin Baptist Churches USA, Jessup, MD.
Panel II: The Humanitarian Fallout
Panelists:
- Dr. Roy Medley, Convenor, Burma Advocacy Group and General Secretary Emeritus, American Baptist Churches USA
- John Indergaard, Project and Research Coordinator; Esther Par, Research Intern; Abishag Cer, Research Intern; Htayni Sui, Research Volunteer, and Hannah Par, Research Volunteer.
Concluding Remarks: Zo Tum Hmung, Executive Director, CAM
CO-HOSTED BY: Chin Association of Maryland, Office of International Justice and Peace of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, American Baptist Churches USA, DC Baptist Convention, Burma Advocacy Group, Boat People SOS, International Campaign for the Rohingya, and 21Wilberforce.
INDIVIDUALS: Scott Stearman, Ph.D, U.N. Representative Baptist World Alliance (ECOSOC)/Cooperative Baptist Fellowship; U Aung Kyi Nyunt, Chairman, CRPH; U Kyaw Zaw, Spokesperson of the President’s Office, National Unity Government (NUG); U Moe Zaw Oo, Deputy Union Minister, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, NUG; and U Aung Kyaw Moe, Deputy Union Minister, Ministry of Human Rights, NUG.
