Local World Refugee Day highlights Burmese
June 11, 2011,
More than 700 Burmese have found refuge in the New Bern and Craven County area in recent years, escaping religious and political persecution.
They will be the highlight of this year’s local World Refugee Day June 18 at the New Bern Farmers Market. A community panel discussion about Burma is planned the evening before at the Christ Church Ministry Center on Middle Street.
The events are sponsored by the Interfaith Refugee Ministry.
“The panel discussion should be good because we are trying to get people from all over the community to come in and listen to some of these folks tell about their experiences,” said Chick Natella of the refugee ministry. “The name of it is Burma in the past, present and future, as far as our city is concerned.”
They will be the highlight of this year’s local World Refugee Day June 18 at the New Bern Farmers Market. A community panel discussion about Burma is planned the evening before at the Christ Church Ministry Center on Middle Street.
The events are sponsored by the Interfaith Refugee Ministry.
“The panel discussion should be good because we are trying to get people from all over the community to come in and listen to some of these folks tell about their experiences,” said Chick Natella of the refugee ministry. “The name of it is Burma in the past, present and future, as far as our city is concerned.”
He said the Burmese escaped a repressive, military government.
“The government will not tolerate people who are not Buddhists, especially if they are Christians,” Natella said. “And, they will not tolerate any anti-government sentiments. Most that come here are Christians.”
He said the Burmese have fit well into the local community.
“They are really good and decent people,” Natella said of the Burmese. “Their children are excellent in school. These kids who have only been here a very few years, they really excel. It is amazing.”
The Interfaith Refugee Ministry began in 1992, as part of the Diocese of East Carolina, mainly working with refugees from counties in Eastern Europe such as Bosnia.
Through the beginning of 2009, the ministry here had resettled more than 1,000 refugees. The ethnicities have included Russians, Ukrainians, Vietnamese, Bosnians, Croatians, Serbians, Burmese, Chin, Karen, Rohingya, Chinese, Montagnards, Kosovar Albanians, Iranians, Cameroonians, Uzbeki, Sudanese, Rwandans and Colombians.
On the Web: helpingrefugees.org
Charlie Hall can be reached at 252-635-5667 or chall@freedomenc.com
Link: :http://www.newbernsj.com/news/burmese-98151-year-recent.html
“The government will not tolerate people who are not Buddhists, especially if they are Christians,” Natella said. “And, they will not tolerate any anti-government sentiments. Most that come here are Christians.”
He said the Burmese have fit well into the local community.
“They are really good and decent people,” Natella said of the Burmese. “Their children are excellent in school. These kids who have only been here a very few years, they really excel. It is amazing.”
The Interfaith Refugee Ministry began in 1992, as part of the Diocese of East Carolina, mainly working with refugees from counties in Eastern Europe such as Bosnia.
Through the beginning of 2009, the ministry here had resettled more than 1,000 refugees. The ethnicities have included Russians, Ukrainians, Vietnamese, Bosnians, Croatians, Serbians, Burmese, Chin, Karen, Rohingya, Chinese, Montagnards, Kosovar Albanians, Iranians, Cameroonians, Uzbeki, Sudanese, Rwandans and Colombians.
On the Web: helpingrefugees.org
Charlie Hall can be reached at 252-635-5667 or chall@freedomenc.com
Link: :http://www.newbernsj.com/news/burmese-98151-year-recent.html
