After the Myanmar coup, Christians are 'hiding in the forest for safety'
Pastor Chit* quickly realised that he and his small church were not safe anymore following the February coup. The military junta that had detained Myanmar's political leadership was now raiding churches, offices, cafes, residential buildings. They were hunting down protesters and shooting them.
Soon the pastor and 18 families from his church decided that the jungle was a safer place and moved them all to hide in the wild. They dug the ground, made a hole and are now staying there most of the time. Since the price of food has doubled following the coup, Pastor Chit and his community cannot afford to buy rice, so they forage roots and leaves from the jungle.
One threat they face is being forcibly conscripted into the army by the junta. One pastor in a remote village told Open Doors' partner Lwin*: "Last week, the village chief was asked to recruit 30 men for the military. Now the Christians, including the pastor, are hiding in the forest." CT.
