NEW DELHI — As Burma’s military junta gears up this year for its first parliamentary election in two decades, observers fear attacks on the Christian minority could intensify.
Mungpi Suangtak, assistant editor of a New Delhi-based news agency run by exiled Burmese journalists, the Mizzima News, said the Burmese junta has “one of the world’s worst human rights records” and will “definitely” attack religious and ethnic minorities more forcefully in the days leading up to the election.
The military regime, officially known as the State Peace and Development Council, pledged to hold the election this year, and analysts believe polls will be held after July in the country, also known as Myanmar.
Suangtak said the Buddhist nationalist junta would target Christians particularly in Karen state, which borders Thailand, and in Chin state, which borders India and Bangladesh. Given that the junta merely uses religion for political power, it doesn’t target Christians alone, Suangtak said.
“The junta has no respect for any religion, be it Christians or Buddhists, and anyone who opposes its rule is dealt with harshly,” Suangtak said.
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