Forced Conversion to Buddhism in Eastern Nagaland

By Wondin | Eastern Nagaland, May 29, 2014

The Eastern Nagas in Burma, under the Sagaing Division now called Naga Self-Administered Zone (NSAZ), are predominantly Christians. The traditional belief of the Nagas was animism, but when Good News of the living God brought to them after 1950, they spontaneously accepted Lord Jesus Christ as their savior. The apostasy from traditional belief to Christianity went on with no persecution or problem whatsoever. After 1980 almost all Eastern Nagas became Christians. Only few such as shamans remained to practice ritual of the tradition. Christianity reached to Eastern Nagaland much later, 137 years after the Christianity brought to Burma by American Baptist Missionary Rev. Adoniram Judson in 1813.

Buddha Siddhattha was born in BC 623, in the Kingdom of Kapilavathu on the border of present day Nepal, yet even after more than 2000 years, Buddhism did not reach to Nagaland. However, after 1990, the Burmese Army started to force Christian Nagas to accept Buddhism at gun point. This is how persecution of Christians begun in Naga Hills. For instance, some few events are enumerated as follows:

1. In 1997, in Somra areas, all Christian Churches were locked by Buddhist Monks for months in order to prevent the Christians to worship their God. When the leaders of Tangkhul Baptist Church Association attempted to open the doors, the Burmese Army started firing at them and sought to arrest them all. Thus the Church leaders (all of them 12) compelled to hide in the jungle for their safety for weeks to months.

2. On 29 December 1998, 19 in number of Burmese Army under the Command of Captain Demongso came to Kingphu village and abducted Pastor Mr. Metthiu and tortured him for a week without giving him food. The Kingphu Christian villagers were threatened by burning alive or shoot death if they attempted to enter into the Church to worship their God.

3. In 1999, the Burmese Army tortured Christian villagers in Ponyu areas and forced them to deny Jesus Christ their God, and forced them to sign in a document stating that they have disowned Christianity and converted to Buddhism. On 7th April 1999, four Monks and soldiers called Ponyu Nyukyan village Christians, blindfolded them and tortured for four hours. The youths were tortured hanging them upside down and even ordered them to dig their own graves. On 24th April 1999, Ponyu village Baptist Church was destroyed and the Christians were forced to worship Buddha.

4. In the same year 1999, the Pastor of Solo village Mr. Pai, was beaten blue and black and his Christian Congregation was forced to convert to Buddhism at gun point. The pastor was not only banned to preach Gospel but also forced him to convert to Buddhist.

5. On January 20, 1999, the Burmese Army under the Command of Captain Zoolen entered Houthait village along with Buddhist Monks and arbitrarily stopped the construction of Church building; and also brutally tortured the Pastor and Church leaders inhumanly.

6. In 2004, the Burmese Army from Infantry Battalion (IB) 52 and 229 forced the Naga Christians to convert to Buddhism at gun point and forced them to build Buddhist Pagoda.

7. On December 15, 2005, Mr. Rokvay, Pastor of Chawang Nukwuk village was tortured for three days by Burmese Army under the Command of Maj. Khaing Tun Naing and Christians from the said village were forced to convert to Buddhism. Also the same Burmese Army group tortured Mr. Winrom, Pastor of Lumnu village in December 2005 and sent him to his native village without allowing him to preach Gospel. And yet another Pastor Mr. Rego of Chamkok village Baptist Church was also abducted by the same Burmese Army and kept him in the dungeon for a week. When he was brought out for sun bath, he availed the chance and run for his life. While he was running the Burmese Army fired several rounds upon him, but he escaped by the grace of God without any injury of the bullets.

8. In Pangsao areas, Burmese Army from IB 52, under the Command of a Major entered into several villages in January 2005 and seized all timbers, which were kept for construction of Church buildings. Also seized all Church properties such as furniture, solar panels and documents.

9. In November 2005, the Burmese Army entered Thingpa village and taken away the Solar panels, its accessories, inverters, microphones, amplifiers, other electrical fittings and also Pastor was brutally beaten.

10. On 1st December 2005, Burmese Army took away a solar panel from Chuya village Baptist Church and demanded Indian Rupees 10,000/- from the villagers.

11. On 3rd December 2005, Burmese Army took away a solar panel, battery and shawls from Chan Lam village Baptist Church and demanded another two more solar panels.

12. On January 6, 2005, many villagers were detained and tortured by Burmese Army from 229 IB. They also took away 20,000/- Indian Rupees from Pokon Baptist Church treasury.

For proselytizing from animism or Christianity to Buddhism, the methods applied by the Burmese Army are threatening, intimidation, exemption from tax, forced labor, portering and luring with money, clothes, providing rations. The Nagas those who converted to Buddhism are offered favorable chance to become government servants than Christians and they are promoted to their next higher rank and give more power to exercise in the regions.

Also the Government Ministry for “Border Area Ethic People’s Development”, called in Burmese acronym နတလ(na-ta-la), has been instituted Boarding schools for Naga boys and girls in each and every Township Headquarters (Layshi, Homalin, Khamti, Lahe Townships, and under construction in Namyung and Pangsao Townships) providing facilities free of charge, including food and lodging. Such boarding schools are also established at Tanai and Myitkyina in Kachin State where Naga and Kachin students could admit in. The poor Naga Christian parents are compelled to send their children to the said Boarding schools in the interest of their children’s education. However, their children have no option but to be converted to Buddhism at peremptory order, since these Boarding schools are maintaining by the Government, Buddhists.

The boys and girls are therefore should have to novitiate in the Buddhist order and should become Buddhist nun shaving their heads even if they are Christians, because Christians are rejected for admission. And when these students passed matriculation or made graduation, the government offers preferable government jobs to them as they become Buddhists. It is not a written Law, but apparently and insistently practicing by the Burmese Government is that unless Christians are converted to Buddhism they are hard to get the government jobs or promotion to their next higher rank/designation. In this way discrimination and division among the Nagas is being done by the Burmese Government deliberately. In its Constitution, it is clearly enshrined for free profession and religion, but in practice it is not so. This policy is presently and currently applying by the Burmese Government and will be continued to eliminate Christianity in Eastern Nagaland or to Burmanize Naga people. It is therefore not a project for development but Buddhist Missionary work is being carried out to the Naga Hills under the Government Ministry for Border Areas Ethnic People’s Development since forced conversion at gun point is come into a halt.

The following photos are Naga students who have ordained as Buddhist novice monks and nuns in 2014.