Senior Correspondent for ASSIST News Service
SURREY, ENGLAND (ANS) -- A Christian human rights agency has received a report from sources inside Kachin State, Burma alleging that soldiers from the Burma Army shot at worshipers in a church in Wai Maw Township two days ago.
Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) reported in a news release that Soldiers from the Burma Army's 88th Light Infantry Division attacked the Assemblies of God church in Muk Chyik village, Wai Maw Township on Nov. 6, injuring several people. The congregation was forced to leave the church, and soldiers reportedly looted church donation boxes.
CSW said the house of one church member, Jumphpawk Hawng Lum, was burned down. At least 50 church members were taken to work as forced porters for the Burma Army.
The pastor of the church, Yajawng Hkawng, was “severely tortured,” and is now in hospital. One of the church deacons, Hpalawng Lum Hkawng, who is the youth music team leader, was injured in his leg.
CSW's East Asia Team Leader Benedict Rogers said in a news release, “The military in Burma has unleashed yet another wave of terror against civilians in the ethnic states, at a time when the regime is speaking about reform. The regime is perpetrating war crimes and crimes against humanity. These attacks in Kachin State, involving rape, forced labor, torture, the killings of civilians, and religious persecution are grave violations of international law and must be stopped.”
Rogers continued, “Attacking churches where civilians are gathering to pray peacefully is a serious violation of religious freedom. The international community must take immediate action to provide humanitarian assistance to those internally displaced in Kachin State, and to end the culture of impunity which has prevailed in Burma for too long.”
Christian Solidarity Worldwide works for religious freedom through advocacy and human rights, in the pursuit of justice.
For further information, go to www.csw.org.uk.
For further information, go to www.csw.org.uk.
| Jeremy Reynalds is Senior Correspondent for the ASSIST News Service, a freelance writer and also the founder and CEO of Joy Junction, New Mexico's largest emergency homeless shelter, http://www.joyjunction.org He has a master's degree in communication from the University of New Mexico, and a Ph.D. in intercultural education from Biola University in Los Angeles. His newest book is "Homeless in the City." Additional details on "Homeless in the City" are available athttp://www.homelessinthecity.com. Reynalds lives in Albuquerque, New Mexico. For more information contact: Jeremy Reynalds at jeremyreynalds@comcast.net. |
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