Senior General Than Shwe is Myanmar’s Chairman of the State Peace and Development Council (since 1992).  He was born February 2, 1933 in Kyaukse, Mandalay, British India. 

Vice-Senior General Maung Aye is the Vice Chairman of the State Peace and Development Council (since 1994).  He was born December 25, 1937 in Konbalu, in Sagaing Division, Myanmar. 

General Thein Sein is the Myanmar’s Prime Minister (since 2007).  He was born April 20, 1945. 

Lieutenant-General Thiha Thura Tin Aung Myint Oo is Secretary-1 of the State Peace and Development Council; he is also Chairman of Myanmar Trade Council.  He was born May 27, 1950. 

89% of the country’s 46 million are Buddhist; 4% are Christian, and 4% are Muslim.  Christian Solidarity Worldwide calls the Myanmar government “guilty of every possible human rights violation”.  The Karen, Karenni, Shan, Mon, Chin, Arakan, Rohingya, and Kachin ethnic groups have all been targetted by the government for violence; there are over 1 million internally displaced people and an estimated 70,000 child soldiers.  The Myanmar government even created a document called “Program to Destroy the Christian Religion in Burma”, which was later leaked to the press.  Christians, Muslims, and Buddhists alike suffer religious persecution in Myanmar; among other offenses, Christian churches have been burnt down, and Bibles in the Chin language are prohibited. 

Please pray for Than Shwe, Maung Aye, Thein Sein, and Thiha Thura Tin Aung Myint Oo, that justice would be done for all in Myanmar.  Pray that the goverment would stop its persecution of Christians, so that they may worship Christ openly, and for Muslims and Buddhists, so that they may be free to learn about Christ.  Pray for the victims of human rights abuses, that God would comfort them and that they would come to trust in Him through Christ.  Also, pray for those suffering as a result of the recent cyclone, that God would provide and protect them, and that they would come to know and glorify Him. 

For more information about Myanmar’s leaders, visit the following sites: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Than_Shwe                                                                                         http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maung_Aye                                                    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thein_Sein              http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thiha_Thura_Tin_Aung_Myint_Oo

For more on Myanmar, visit:       http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/asiapcf/05/06/myanmar.cyclone/index.html        http://www.asianews.it/view.php?l=en&art=1711                                                                      http://irrawaddy.org/                                                                                  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Myanmar  http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0107808.html  https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/bm.html http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2007/april/9.20.html  http://dynamic.csw.org.uk/country.asp?s=id&urn=Burma

Sources: Wikipedia, Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada, Christianity Today, Christian Solidarity Worldwide

“First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way” (1Tim. 2:1-2, ESV). 

“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven.” (Matt. 43-45, ESV)

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