No lull in attacks on Burmese Chin Christians

The recent brutal attacks on religious communities and peaceful civilians in Burma stood in stark contrast to the regime's pledge on reform and peace building, the Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) said last week.

The advocacy group Friday said it was deeply concerned by reports that the Burma Army was directly attacking churches in Kachin State, beating pastors and church members, setting homes alight and raping, torturing and killing civilians.

According to CSW's sources, on October 16 soldiers from Light Infantry Battalion 438 seized control of a Roman Catholic Church in Namsan Yang village, Waimaw township, where 23 worshippers, mostly women and elderly people, had gathered for morning Sunday service.

The worshippers took refuge from the gunfire behind the Maria prayer sanctuary. When the troops saw them, they shot several rounds of bullets into the sanctuary. The Catholic assistant to the priest, 49 year-old father-of-four Jangma Awng Li, decided to speak to the troops as he is fluent in Burmese. He was beaten in his head with a rifle butt, and injured his forehead when he hit a concrete wall. He and four other men were handcuffed and detained by the soldiers.

The troops, who were later joined by soldiers from Light Infantry Battalion 121, continued to march through the village shooting, and reached the Baptist church compound in the evening. During the march the detainees, including four from other villages who had been with the troops for two weeks, were used as forced labour.

The detainees had to stay with the troops overnight and were temporarily stationed in the Baptist church compound. The whole northern part of village was burned and both church properties were destroyed.

According to CSW, two days ago, Light Infantry Battalion 121 shot 72 year-old Maru Je Hkam Naw in the arms and legs whilst he was erecting a fence around his house in Namsan Yang village. Houses in Namsan Yang were burned by the Burmese Army and Mr Jangma Awng Li and other detainees, too afraid to return home, fled the village.

At least 21 villagers were detained and used for forced labour, and a 19 year-old Rakhine boy was shot dead. His body was allegedly burned and thrown into the mine in Namsan Yang where he worked.

On October 18, a 19 year-old girl, Maran Kawbu, was detained, tortured and gang-raped by soldiers from the same battalion in Namsan Yang. Her body was left on the river bank.

In Momauk, approximately 500 internally displaced persons (IDPs) have fled the conflict and are seeking temporary accommodation in the church. On October 19, a Shan farmer named Mr Tintun was shot dead by soldiers from Light Infantry Brigade 601, while fishing.

CSW's East Asia representative Benedict Rogers said, "These brutal attacks on religious communities stand in stark contrast to the regime's recent rhetoric about reform and peace building. CSW has received numerous reports of rape, torture and killing of civilians in Kachin State by the Burma Army this year. Rape, forced labour and killing civilians on a widespread and systematic basis constitute crimes against humanity."

"We urge President Thein Sein to call a halt to the military's attacks on civilians throughout Burma, stop the widespread and systematic violations of human rights, declare a nationwide ceasefire, and enter into a meaningful dialogue process with all the ethnic nationalities and the democracy movement led by Aung San Suu Kyi," he added.

Rogers urged the international community to mobilise the mechanisms of the United Nations, to hold the regime in Burma accountable for violations of international law, and end war crimes and crimes against humanity "which the regime is perpetrating with impunity".

Meanwhile, despite their abject poverty, several Chin Christians have come forward with financial contributions to help conflict-affected Kachin refugees.

About 7000 USD was last week collected for the war-displaced refugees. The contributions were handed over by Chin pastors from the Zomi Baptist Convention (ZBC).

"This small amount of financial assistance will not be able to show our true hearts, but it is an expression of our concerns and support for our Kachin brothers in this difficult time," Rev. M. Thawng Kam, ZBC Chairman, told Chinland Guardian.

Stating that Kachin locals fleeing military offensives were still in dire need of relief aid and assistance, Kam urged Chin communities worldwide to continue their contribution.