Burmese army stop a Christian Chin gathering
Yangon (AsiaNews /
Agencies) - The Burmese army raided a building where a Protestant Christian
Chin communities meeting was taking place, the soldiers pointed their weapons
against the faithful, among whom there was also a State MP. The incident
occurred on March 10 last, but was only reported today by the Chin Human Rights Organization (CHRO)
and re-launched by dissident website Democratic
Voice of Burma (DVB). Meanwhile, the U.S.
Commission on International Religious
Freedom (USCIRF) today issued the 2012 report on abuses and violations,
which shows that Myanmar
placed on the "worst list" along with China,
Egypt, Vietnam, Iraq and Korea North. The U.S.
experts judgment cites the ongoing civil war between the government army and
the Christian minority Kachin in the north, where sectarian elements are
combined with political demands.
Sources told the Chronicle that last March 10 , Burmese soldiers led by
two army captains interrupted a meeting of a thousand delegates to the
Evangelical Church of Chin Matupi, a town near the border with India, in Chin
State (90% Christian). The military ordered those present to show permits for
the conduct of the gathering, according to "rules governing Christian
worship and assembly of the faithful."
Among the Christians present, there was also Pu Cin Van, Chin State Member of
Parliament, belonging to the Ethnic
National Development Party. One of the two officers put a gun to the
politician's head mocking him: "I do not care if you are a member of
parliament - the soldier is reported to have said. "Here we are not under the
authority of government, we only take orders from the Regional North -Western
Command. "
Human rights activists denounced the abuse committed by the military in a
nation controlled by the army for decades, which abuses rights and personal
freedoms. Salai Za Uk Ling, director of Chronicle,
points out that "it is very difficult for Christians to organize a
demonstration, without assaults and abuse." He confirms that "the
army continues to violate human rights, despite the January peace
accords."
A year ago the military junta handed over power to a civilian government and
General Than Shwe - strong man in the country - has retreated behind the
scenes. However, the army's influence is still strong, especially in areas of
war particularly the States that are home to ethnic minorities that form, along
with Burmese, the Union of Myanmar.
21/02/2023 11:21
23/09/2021 09:07