November 16, 2011
At least 10 people were killed and more than two dozen injured in a grenade attack at an orphanage in a primarily Christian region in northern Burma on Nov. 13, the Christian Post reports. The attack, which occurred in Myitkyinar, Kachin State, happened as a study group was taking place inside the orphanage, increasing the number of casualties. It is unclear why the orphanage was targeted, but Kachin State has seen increasing violence targeting Burma's Christian minority. Recent restrictions have been placed on the region's Christians, restricting their freedom to worship, hold Bible studies and pray, and forbidding them to build new churches or display religious symbols in public. More than 30,000 people from Kachin State have been displaced since June, when insurgent groups renewed fighting with the Burmese military. Burma is regarded as one of the world's worst violators of religious freedom, and the country's official newspapers did not include reports on the orphanage bombing.
