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Press release
Chin Freedom Coalition
January 22. 1999 


REGIME BLOCKS CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION OF CHRISTIANITY IN CHIN STATE

Cross destroyed, pastors interrogated in acts of continuing Christian 
persecution

Burma's military regime has stepped up its persecution of  the Chin 
Christian community which is celebrating the Centennial of Christianity 
in Chin areas of Burma. Chin pastors are being interrogated and 
Centennial celebration in Haka, the capital of Chin State have been 
postponed by the regime at least until April.

Chin Christian sought to celebrate their Christianity Centennial from 
January 1-3,1999 at Thantlang, another city in the Chin State of Burma. 
The Centennial marks the arrival of American missionaries Rev. Carson 
and his wife Laura Carson in 1899. On January 5,1999 when the 
celebration in Thantlang was over, citizen   of the town posted a 
Centennial memorial cross at the top of Vuichip Hill near Thantlang. The 
Burmese military from Thantlang ordered the citizens of Thantlang to 
remove   the cross they had erected atop the hill. After the citizen 
refused to removed the cross, soldiers pulled it down and destroyed it. 
Six Christian pastors from Thantlang, Rev. Thawng Kam, Rev. Biak Kam, 
Rev. Thantu, Rev. Tha Ceu, Rev. Cung Bik and Rev. Beauty Lily were then 
taken away from the town and interrogated.

In protest, the whole of Thantlang's citizenry stage a general strike 
prayer service and fast at local churches or in their homes the  
following day ( January 6, 1999 ). In retaliation, the military cut all 
telephone lines to Thantlang and summoned 20 pastors and church leaders 
from various denominations for interrogation.

On January 9, 1999 churches around Haka joined the protest by holding 
prayer services. Military officers from Haka told church leaders that if 
they wanted to put the memorial cross again, they have to apply to the 
Home Minister in Rangoon. The Military has also ordered the postponement 
of Centenial celebrations in Kaka until april.

The Burmese military is systematically persecuting Christians in Burma 
and seems intent on "cleansing" the country of its Chin population. Well 
over 90% of the Chin population in Burma is Christian


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