“'...While there’s been 500,000 killed, it hasn’t been overnight. It’s been a slower type of genocide, so it doesn’t garner the media attention that the rest of the genocides tend to gather. But it’s occurring nonetheless,” she explains. The attacks are primarily against the Karen, Kachin, and Shan states of Burma.
"According to Romeijn, over two million have been displaced from their villages, and 250,000 people have fled to refugee camps. These Internally Displaced People (IDPs) are not necessarily safe in the camps, however.
"The Burmese Army continues to attack the groups in the refugee camps. Any ceasefires are temporary and used as a time to replenish, restock, and reestablish their army’s position. The fighting heightens in ferocity after these short breaks.
"The persecution may be slow, but it is steady.
"The fighting is not due to religion, or at least not primarily. It is a fight about ethnicity. It is important to note that over 90% of the Kachin people are Christian. Yet, the Buddhists and animists among them are persecuted as well.
"When the safety of IDP camps is compromised, the ethnic groups often try to flee to neighboring countries..."
Refugee Camps In Burma A New Target For Violence, by Julie Oosterhouse, Mission Network News
"According to Romeijn, over two million have been displaced from their villages, and 250,000 people have fled to refugee camps. These Internally Displaced People (IDPs) are not necessarily safe in the camps, however.
"The Burmese Army continues to attack the groups in the refugee camps. Any ceasefires are temporary and used as a time to replenish, restock, and reestablish their army’s position. The fighting heightens in ferocity after these short breaks.
"The persecution may be slow, but it is steady.
"The fighting is not due to religion, or at least not primarily. It is a fight about ethnicity. It is important to note that over 90% of the Kachin people are Christian. Yet, the Buddhists and animists among them are persecuted as well.
"When the safety of IDP camps is compromised, the ethnic groups often try to flee to neighboring countries..."
Refugee Camps In Burma A New Target For Violence, by Julie Oosterhouse, Mission Network News
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