The hill tribe of Chaungtha, numbering 166,000, is one of one hundred forty distinct people groups of Burma. Chaungtha means people of the valley or people of the river. Their main occupation is growing rice on terraced mountainsides.
Buddhism co-exists with the Chaungtha’s traditional animistic ethnic religion in which the spirits (nats) must be appeased. Different nats preside over specific regions, villages, families, and activities.
The official government policy is one of religious tolerance, but even groups that follow the requirement to register with the authorities report restrictions and mistreatment. There is no state religion, but the repressive military regime shows a preference for Thervada Buddhism in such areas as the news media or government schools.
Shan is the trade language, but the native language, which has no Scriptures, is spoken in homes. Foreign religious workers must be careful their activities are not seen as proselytizing.
Fall 2008