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Statement on Chin Student Union (r)



Statement on religious persecution in Chin State, Burma


Barely four days before the Burmese military government denied US State 
Department report that it persecutes Christian Chins in the western part of 
Burma, the state authorities in Chin State arrested Rev. Thawng Kam and Rev. 
Biak Kam on account of holding a Church meeting without prior knowledge of 
the authorities on 7 Septeber 1999.

Rev. Thawng Kam is General Secretary of Thantlang Association of Baptist 
Churches (TABC), which covers 44 churches of the surrounding villages and 
the later, Rev. Biak Kam, age 60, is a senior pastor of Than Tlang Baptist 
Church, which is the biggest church in Than Tlang areas with the membership 
of more than 33,00. The church meeting was to discuss as to how to help 
release headmen of 12 villages of Thantlang township, who were arrested for 
their alleged role in the defection of one army personnel from a patrolling 
army unit under Light Infantry Battalion 266, and block chairmen of
Thantlang town who were severely tortured under army detention for allegedly 
sympathizing Chin National Front, CNF.

They are now in jail with most of them sentenced to 12 years with rigorous 
imprisonment. The two Reverends were hurriedly led overnight to Lungler Army 
outpost, 30 miles away, on foot.

The arrested village council members are neither in any way responsible for 
the soldier defection nor should the pastors be arrested for holding a 
religious meeting in a country where freedom to profess and practice 
religion is ensured.

It is a realization on the part of SPDC of its scheme of Christian-cleansing 
in Chin State under which it carries out coercive conversion to Buddhism 
including physically attacking Christian leaders and by targeting Christians 
for forced labor.

The two Union constitutions in post-independence Burma, which were
promulgated in 1947 and 1974 respectively, ensured that " the national races 
shall enjoy the freedom to profess their religion". It is, thus, against the 
constitution of Burma and against the United Nations Declaration of Human 
Rights to discriminate Christian Chins against the dominant Buddhists.

The Chin Students Union, therefore, strongly condemns such atrocities being 
carried out against the innocent Christian Chins, which have compelled 
several residents of Thantlang town to evacuate the area.

The junta spokesman in Washington, in reacting the US State Department 
report, stated that "Buddhism does not force-promote its faith...and that it 
is against the fundamental belief of Buddhism to do such things in Myanmar".

The fact is that it is not Buddhism that force-promote its faith but the 
military government that is force-promoting Buddhism over other religions. 
There is a Burmese saying, which most suits to the way the Burmese 
government does that " the mouth speaks different words but the hands do 
different things". It is most unfortunate that the military junta 
consistently believes that it is in its capacity to do anything it likes as 
long as it has mouth to speak and is in power.

The arrest and illegal detention of the pastors makes it crystal clear that 
the junta is still committed to its scheme of "Buddhistization".

The same pastors were among those arrested by the army for erecting a cross 
in the hilltop west of Thantlang when the Chins prepared to celebrate 
Christianity centenary in January 1999. The army cut down the cross that was 
posted by Christians in Thantlang. The regime's reason behind the 
construction of several Buddhist pagodas on hills in Chin State where no 
Buddhism exists is questionable, while Christians are not allowed to erect 
even a single cross. The Chin Students Union is gravely concerned over 
ongoing persecution in Chin State and for the lives of the pastors and all 
villages' headmen under the SPDC security forces.

It, therefore, strongly demands;


The immediate halt of religious persecution against Christians in Chin 
State.
The release of pastors, village heads and block chairmen in Thantlang 
without exception.

To immediately stop committing atrocities on innocent Chin civilians.
To ensure freedom of religion for religious minorities.
To immediately withdraw SPDC troops from Chinland.

The CSU also appeals to the international community to join hands with the 
US State Department in voicing for the safety of religious minorities in 
Burma.

Central Committee
Chin Students Union
28th September 199   Central Committee
New Delhi