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World AIDS day was observed on December 1st. Though Nepal was hailed by the UN as achieving a significant decline in new HIV infection rates, they are now witnessing a new alarming trend with housewives accounting for nearly half of the fresh infections. The rocketing increase of housewives contracting HIV/AIDS is linked to the growing migration of Nepali men abroad for jobs, especially to India, from where they bring the disease back home to remote areas where people find it easier to go to India across the border for jobs, business, education and even entertainment. Nepal’s HIV/AIDS efforts are heavily dependent on international assistance. This situation leads to babies needlessly being born infected when they could easily have been HIV-free if their mothers were granted greater access to testing and treatment. Pray: for streams of Godly education to support all initiatives intended to halt the spread of aids. (Job27:11) More: http://www.nepalyouthfoundation.org/programs/health/newlife.html?gclid=CITticvB3KUCFYIe4Qod13_80A
Hindu extremists in Nepal have threatened to attack Christians and Muslims unless they leave the country. Members of the Nepal Defence Army (NDA) made threatening phone calls to several senior church figures and issued leaflets threatening violence against both Christians and Muslims. In one call, extremists threatened to bomb a cathedral in Kathmandu – the target of a violent attack by the NDA in 2009. In another call, the group insisted that Nepal is a Hindu nation where Christians and Muslims are 'not welcome'. The threats have prompted a police investigation and forced churches to hire security guards. The NDA has claimed responsibility for several attacks on Christians, church organisations and mosques in recent years. It has taken advantage of political instability since the end of Nepal's civil war to pursue its armed struggle to create a Hindu state.
Pray: for God's perfect peace and protection over Christians in Nepal. Pray particularly for wisdom for church leaders. Pray that moderate Christians, Muslims and Hindus in Nepal will commit to working together to build the future of their nation. (Is.26:3)
Al Shabaab, an Islamic militant group alleged three agencies were propagating Christianity and halted their work. ‘Now that they have suspended their work, it is the local people who will suffer,’ said the Pastor now in exile, of a small Christian community in Somalia. On 8 August, the Islamic group demanded that World Vision, the Adventist Development and Relief Agency, and Diakonia, a Swedish agency, immediately cease operations in Somalia. Pray: for God to protect and keep in His perfect peace the groups in Nairobi and elsewhere who bring emotional, physical, and spiritual sustenance where militant Islam threatens. (Ps.26:1, 12) More: http://www.eni.ch/
Members of the House Human Rights Commission hosted a congressional hearing last week, shining a spotlight on how China is ignoring the plight of North Korean refugees living in the country. Lawmakers heard firsthand that ninety percent of the women who flee North Korea fall victims to traffickers and the Chinese government does nothing about it. In fact it is the Chinese government's ruthless policy of repatriating North Koreans that makes them so vulnerable to the traffickers. It is hoped that when President Obama meets with the leader of China later on this year he will raise this issue. The administration is silent on these issues and although nuclear issues are important, human rights for the North Korean people is important also. China also returns refugees to North Korea where they face imprisonment and death. Pray: for more activists to make a stand for the North Korean refugees in China. (Ps.9:18) More: http://www.cbn.com/cbnnews/world/2010/September/Lawmakers-Spotlight-NKorea-Sex-Trafficking/
The momentum behind a push to investigate Burma's (Myanmar’s) crimes against humanity is growing. Ten governments are now calling for the UN to set up a commission of inquiry over the junta regime's alleged use of rape as a weapon of war, forced recruitment of child soldiers, forced labour, torture and more. As more on these allegations came to light, Canada, France, the Netherlands and New Zealand added their support since the United States backed the move in August.They join Australia, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Slovakia and the United Kingdom. Mission agencies in the country report an open campaign targeting the Arakan, Chin and the Karen, many of whom are Christians. (See Prayer Alert 3110) Vision Beyond Borders' Wes Flint said in an earlier interview, ‘The Burmese army is not bashful about ‘their goal ‘ to exterminate the Karen people, to wipe them off the face of the earth. Pray: the world would no longer ignore the suffering in Burma, and for God to release the country into physical and spiritual freedom (2Sa.22:7)
Fighting erupted Sunday and thousands fled to Thailand as Myanmar's military government held its first election in two decades. (See Prayer Alert 4410 re Christian minorities in Myanmar). Myanmar's officials claim to have retaken control after the weekend’s clashes. On the strength of this report Thai authorities are sending home more than 10,000 people, but many are worried about further clashes. The coordinator of the Myanmar Partnership Coalition reported, ‘Many who fled the fighting do not feel safe to go back. I just wish that the Thai authorities didn't send them back yet It's too soon to be certain whether they will be safe or not.’ Some boats ferried people to Myanmar, and then came back to Thailand fully loaded with people. Thousands of men, women, and children are sheltering under blue tents erected on a soccer field next to a border patrol police station, while rocket grenades were still being fired near their homes. Pray: for the fighting to end, shops to re-open and people to feel it's safe enough to return. (Mt.7:7 & Ps.4:8) More: http://www.voanews.com/english/news/Troops-Regaining-Control-in-Eastern-Burma-106945193.html
Myanmar’s (Burma's) first election in 20 years is on November 7th and Christians in ethnic minority states fear that afterwards the military regime will try to ‘cleanse’ the areas of Christianity. The Myanmar junta is showing restraint to woo voters but are expected to launch a military offensive on insurgents after the election that will not discriminate between insurgents and unarmed Christians. Two million Christians live along the border that falls under the military’s target zone bordering Thailand, China and India. Catholic parishes and Protestant Myanmar Council of Churches had a prayer vigil recently and ask us to pray now for - voters to make the correct decision; the election to be free, fair and valid; for leaders who will work and make sacrifices for their people and country; elected people to be skilful leaders and able to work with their heart and soul for the development of the country and steer the country onto the road to democracy. See: Pray: that there will be no conflicts between people groups after the election and for God to hear and answer the prayers of His people for the government. (2Ch.7:14) More: http://www.compassdirect.org/english/country/burma/27544/
It's a situation being ignored by the international media and governments around the world. In May 2012 violence broke out between Buddhists (Rakhine people) and Muslim (Rohingya people) Although the Myanmar government says the situation is normal, violence continues to occur and between 80,000 - 200,000 people have been displaced. The Rakhine people consider the Rohingya illegal immigrants living in their land, even though many of the Rohingya have lived there for many generations and have no other home. People have set up shelters along the road and the refugee population is swelling into a humanitarian crisis with small children and infants dying on a regular basis. A Christian organization called Partners Relief & Development (PRAD) reported that those needing care is growing every day and there is a need for more teams to go to Myanmar with aid and more world governments to speak loudly against what is happening.
Pray: for light in this very dark place, may the situation come to the attention of world governments and for relief to be released to the starving, dying and homeless. (Ps.4:1b)
More: http://www.mnnonline.org/article/17966
Over 600 villagers fled as soldiers shelled their village with mortar rounds before burning it to the ground on 23 July, (50 homes a school and a church were destroyed). Refugees joined 300 others from the neighbouring area in fear of attack, leaving possessions behind, escaping with what food they could carry as they sort refuge in the jungle. It is the rainy season and they need shelter, food, medicine and security. Lack of clean water and disease-carrying jungle insects are of particular concern. Hundreds more are fleeing towards the Thai-Burma border, some are seeking refuge in Thailand. The Burmese Army and the Democratic Karen Buddhist Army (allied to the dictatorship) are preparing a new offensive against ethnic Karen civilians in Eastern Burma in the run-up to the sham elections expected at the end of the year. Pray: for the Lord to show Christians how to pray to topple demonic forces over Myanmar. (Is.60:15,-6) More: http://dynamic.csw.org.uk/article.asp?t=press&id=1017&search=
June 27th was the 1 year anniversary of Myanmar making a commitment to the UN to stop recruiting and using children as soldiers. The agreement acknowledged a longstanding problem and a willingness to correct the practice. However the Tatmadaw has continued to recruit and use children since it signed the action plan, although in lower numbers. It has only released 66 children from its ranks, a fraction of those recruited by troops since the UN started monitoring this issue. Myanmar continues to stall UN access to identify and release children from some of its military sites despite having signed an agreement to do so. The Border Guard Forces (BGFs), which are within the remit of the action plan and for whom the Myanmar military is responsible, have felt no pressure to initiate steps to verify, demobilise or rehabilitate children in their ranks.
Pray: that Myanmar will ensure that under-18s do not serve in the armed forces and immediately begin to honour their 2012 agreement with the UN. (Ps.72:4)
More: http://www.child-soldiers.org/news_reader.php?id=685