U.S.
Department of State Human Rights Report 1998
Adherents of all religions duly registered with the authorities generally
enjoyed freedom to worship as they chose; however, the Government imposed
some restrictions on certain religious minorities. In recent years,
Buddhists continued to enjoy a privileged position. In some areas members
of other religious minorities reportedly were forced by the Government
to help construct pagodas. The Government has made special efforts to
link itself with Buddhism as a means of asserting its own popular legitimacy.
Photographs of SPDC officials paying homage or making donations at pagodas
throughout the country appear regularly in the official newspaper. Aung
San Suu Kyi was able to visit religious sites in Rangoon several times
during the year.
The Government monitored the activities of members of all religions,
in part because congregation members have in the past become politically
active. The authorities continued to regard the Muslim and Christian
religious minorities with suspicion. Moreover, there is a concentration
of Christians among some of the particular ethnic minorities against
whom the army has fought for decades. Religious publications, like secular
ones, remained subject to control and censorship. Christian bibles translated
into indigenous languages could not be imported or printed legally,
although this ban is not enforced in some areas. It remained difficult
for Christian and Muslim groups to obtain permission to build new churches
and mosques. In March authorities did little to halt attacks on Muslims
by Buddhists monks (see Section 5).
Religious groups of all faiths were able to establish and maintain links
with coreligionists in other countries and travel abroad for religious
purposes; however, the Government reportedly monitored these activities.
Foreign religious representatives usually were allowed visas only for
short stays but in some cases were permitted to preach to congregations.
Permanent foreign missionary establishments have not been permitted
since the 1960's, but seven Catholic nuns and four priests working in
Burma since before independence in 1948 have been allowed to continue
their work.
Source: Country Reports on Human Rights Practices
for 1998, U.S. Department of State.
* Each report will open a new window. The 2000 report
opens as PDF file. Use table of contents on the left side of the window
to choose the country you wish to view.
Archives
| 1997
| 1998 | 1999
| 2000
| 2001
|
