Stand with Myanmar

Three years on from a devastating military coup, over 3 million are displaced due to the Myanmar civil war, with the UN reporting that over 18 million within the country are in desperate need of humanitarian assistance.

In solidarity with Myanmar, including the 17 Myanmar congregations in Western Australia alone, we strongly urge Australians everywhere to lend their voices to the cause.

Petition and direct advocacy can produce real, tangible outcomes. Following 2023’s Converge gathering, the Baptist community welcomed the Federal Government’s imposition of sanctions on Myanmar’s military junta—who seized power after ousting the democratically elected government in 2021. As the Baptist family prepares for another Converge gathering this month in support of Australia’s homeless, we must remember that advocacy can have a powerful and lasting impact.

So we must not forget Myanmar. Baptist Churches WA joins its voice with its national partners including Australian Baptist Ministries, Baptist World Aid, Baptist Mission Australia and all of the Baptist state branches for Stand With Myanmar—a nation-wide call to action that all Australian Baptists can engage in. While this campaign is ongoing and you can get involved at any time, the target period will be from now until September 15 2024. During this time, you can show your support by taking any of the following actions;

• Sign the petition.
• Write to your MP.
• Hold a Myanmar Sunday Service at your home church.
• Provide critical financial support.

By taking these steps, we push the government closer to considering the following outcomes

• Further sanctions on industries that provide arms and supplies to the military junta.
• Partnering with ASEAN to deny the junta’s attempts at legitimacy.
• Condemning conscription in Myanmar.
• Increasing humanitarian aid and visa obligations.

May the Baptist Churches help chart a way forward to help the Australian government act hand-in-hand with its brothers and sisters in Myanmar in the pursuit of peace and justice.

Advocacy for tangible outcomes. Australia for Myanmar. Let us stand—and act—together.

Author Theo Doraisamy is a member of the Baptist Advocacy Roundtable and the Pacific Australian Emerging Leaders Network, a joint initiative between Micah Australia and the Pacific Conference of Churches. He is a secondary teacher in his day job.

Sign up for Stand with Myanmar here.