Myanmar Spring Chronicle – December 24 Perspective
Moemaka, December 25, 2024
The Lives of War Refugees During the Christmas Season
For Christians, Christmas is the most cherished time of the year, marked by family reunions and prayer gatherings. However, for Christians in war-torn Myanmar, this sacred season is often spent in forests, mountains, or makeshift refugee camps in conflict-free villages. The opportunity for family reunions is hindered by ongoing battles on connecting roads and by restrictions and blockades. Additionally, soaring transportation costs, sometimes double or tenfold the previous rates, coupled with security concerns, further obstruct families from reuniting.
On the afternoon of December 24, 2021, the eve of Christmas, over 40 villagers, including women and children fleeing from conflict near Mo So village in Hpruso Township, were shot dead by junta forces. Their bodies, along with the vehicles they traveled in, were burned to destroy evidence. Most residents of Karenni State, including those from Mo So village, are Christians. The massacre on Christmas Eve was one of the most heinous acts of the early stages of the civil war. Despite clear evidence, those responsible—both the military units and their commanders—remain unpunished to this day.
The Mo So incident, which occurred on Christmas Eve, intensified the violence, and three years later, nearly the entire country remains engulfed in war. Daily reports of clashes, enforced conscription of youth, kidnappings for ransom, and extortion take place across Myanmar.
Just as Christmas is a significant occasion for Christians, Buddhist holidays are similarly marred by battles forcing Buddhists to flee from conflict zones. In regions such as Sagaing and Magway, arrests, torture, and killings of civilians are rampant. Armed groups have shown no regard for the sanctity of religious festivals, whether during the rainy season, the dry season, or significant religious observances. It is a stark contrast to the past, where pauses in hostilities were more common during such times.
Over four million people have been displaced by the conflict in Myanmar. For the past three to four years, they have been deprived of opportunities for religious and family reunions during significant holidays. Many spend Christmas in refugee camps, monasteries, or jungle hideouts without electricity, adequate drinking water, proper shelter, or sufficient medical care, enduring harsh weather conditions and living in dire circumstances.
News of ongoing clashes, fatalities, and destruction across the country has erased the warmth and joy traditionally associated with Christmas. As of now, battles are raging in Bhamo, Kachin State, forcing tens of thousands of residents to flee across the Irrawaddy River to safer areas. Similarly, in the upper parts of Sagaing and Magway Regions, villagers are fleeing military offensives, with homes being burned and destroyed.
The people, burdened by years of suffering and displacement, long for an end to the conflict and for rapid success in the armed revolution. There is a critical need for unity among armed groups to establish common military and political objectives. While the junta is the primary adversary, achieving consensus on the future political system and governance is equally crucial.
If these issues are not resolved through political dialogue, there is a risk of new armed conflicts arising in the future, making it imperative to address the root causes now.