Release International reports of a Christian publisher in Burma who has been threatened with 12 years of imprisonment for publishing books on theology.

Military government has begun to compile a comprehensive list of Christians. Concern is growing about what the government will do with the list it is compiling of Christians in the country, which is predominantly Buddhist.

Many churches, Bible schools and even Christian-run orphanages have been forced underground since the regime expelled many Christian missions from Burma in 1966.

The government has restricted imports of Burmese Bibles to just 2,000 a year.

The Christian publisher has been detained three times and is now being warned that he could face extended imprisonment unless he stops publishing theological textbooks.

His story is told in the latest edition of the webcast World Update on the Persecuted Church by Release International, which supports persecuted Christians in Burma.

The publisher told Release International: "They tried to stop me to publish any Christian book. In the letter they say several times that if you publish more - any more - we'll sentence you for 12 years. But I continue publishing whatever we can, because we need to work for the Lord. And I am not afraid of any sentence or any action that they are going to take to me. I believe that God will take care of me."

He says the people of Burma are hungry for Christian literature, so he will go on publishing.

"People are seeking God. Many people suffer here, so they really long to see their Redeemer. They are searching for God. So when they get our literature they are very happy to read books - especially in the villages.

"Whatever they get, they really read it. So we need to supply Christian books."