Today Myanmar is a multi-racial and multi-religious country and has an estimated population of 60 million people. The population is comprised of some 135 ethnic groups speaking 106 languages and living together under the generic name, the Republic of the Union of Myanmar. The civil war in Myanmar has lasted for 64 years, from 1949 until now. Today the people (Lu Du) of Myanmar are powerless and cry for justice and peace.
Lu Du people face the lack of freedom of conscience, expression and association, while abuses of rights and suffering (dukkha vedana) are growing in Myanmar. To respond truly to the situation of Myanmar, its churches need to reflect on it theologically and with an appropriate praxis and rediscover the new meaning of life for the people living in a society which is oppressive and politically and socio-economically unjust. Myanmar's present situation is different from God's original purposes for us, purposes that are embodied in the ideas of freedom, justice and peace. Christians in Myanmar must rise to the challenge of creating justice, peace and reconciliation and thus bring about political and ecumenical unity. Churches and Christians in Myanmar are given the mandate to overcome brokenness through the ministries of peace and justice. To be a Christian in Myanmar is to be involved in transforming, or liberating our society in conformity with God's will. The people in Myanmar need to strive for unity, in their respective communities, religions, and races. The journey of the people of Myanmar must be an ecumenical journey towards the reign of God by constructing justice, unity and peace. Building a peaceful community in Myanmar is not the sole responsibility of Christians, Buddhists, Muslims or people of other faiths. It should be the product of peaceful transformation of the poor -- empowering individuals and building relationships. In order to build a peaceful community, immediate, intermediate and long- term strategies should be simultaneously developed and implemented.