Mizzima
On 22 April at about 7:00 pm, junta soldiers released three pastors and two church guards who were arrested in Mawhpawng Village opposite Myitkyina Airbase in Kachin State on 20 April.
The men were originally arrested by junta soldiers at their homes in their church compounds in Mawhpawng Village at about 10:00 p.m. on 20 April, following an attack on Myitkyina Airbase with improvised rockets on 19 April.
The five arrested men were: the Reverend U Shawng La and the Reverend Dum Phao Mung San Naw from the Kachin Baptist Church (KBC), Minister Lung Bang Hkaw Htang from the Catholic Church and two church guards, U Lahpai Gam Dut and U N Dut Gam.
The Peace-Talk Creation Group (PCG), a group of Kachin businessmen who assist with peace talks by mediating between the KIO and the government, helped negotiate the men’s release.
“The PCG brought them to the church last night. Everyone has been released, they are all back safe and sound. Apparently, the PCG acted as their guarantors”, said a source from one of their churches.
It is not known why the men were detained and interrogated, though it might have had something to do with the 19 April rocket attack on the airbase.
