Hkalam Samson poses for photography together with his wife after his release from the prison in Myintkyina township in Kachin state, Myanmar on Wednesday, April 17, 2024
Mizzima
Five people, including three religious leaders, were arrested in a village directly opposite Myitkyina Air Force base in Mitkyina Township, Kachin State, at about 10:00 p.m. on 20 April.
The five people were arrested in Mawhpawng Village at about 10:00 p.m. on 20 April by junta soldiers wearing civilian clothes. The arrested were the Reverend U Shawng La and the Reverend Dum Phao Mung San Naw from the Kachin Baptist Church, Minister Lung Bang Hkaw Htang from the Catholic Church and two church guards, U Lahpai Gam Dut and U N Dut Gam.
“Last night junta soldiers entered the religious leaders’ homes inside the church compounds. Two Reverends and a guard affiliated with the Kachin Baptist Church, along with a Reverend and a guard associated with the Catholic Church, were among the detained. The motive behind their detention remains undisclosed, Presently, fear grips the entire village community”, said a Mawhpawng villager.
The whereabouts of the detained men is still unknown.
Mawhpawng Village, is a sizeable Kachin settlement located just across the road from the Myitkyina Air Force base.
Recently, on 19 April, Myitkyina Air Force base came under attack when resistance forces launched 107 mm improvised rockets at the base
