Story number 4 for 23 Apr 2002

(Burma)–Next, a three-day Baptist convention, due to be held in Burma, has been cancelled on the orders of the junta. The Baptist World Alliance says the Christian community north eastern Burma had planned to celebrate landmark anniversaries for the church when plans fell through. Local sources suspect that the situation stems from an ongoing power struggle between the junta’s top leaders. At least 80 percent of the population in north eastern Burma are Christians. They suffer religious persecution and oppression from the military regime.