Christians in parts of Myanmar have been ordered to carry Christmas early in order that the festival doesn’t conflict with elections because of be held on 28 December.
Churches in Myitkyina, Putao and Tanai have been told that Christmas celebrations needs to be concluded before 20 December by order of the Military Council in Kachin State.
Locals are reportedly unhappy with the decree but know that failure to comply could lead on to arrest on charges of disobeying government orders and even rise up.
A Christian in Tanai told Kachin News: “I feel that is an act of non secular repression. I actually have never experienced this in all my life as a Christian. The way they’re forcing that is like forcing someone to carry their celebration on a day that just isn’t their actual birthday. Who can be glad with that? And this celebration is infinitely more necessary than one’s own birthday; it’s probably the most sacred festival for each Christian.”
The Christian community just isn’t wanting grievances against the military rulers of Myanmar. On 30 November a 23-year-old reverend, Pau Muan Lian, disappeared. Per week later it emerged he had been press-ganged by the military, despite a law exempting members of non secular orders from conscription.
Religious liberty group, Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW), claims that the law is getting used to focus on the leaders of non secular and ethnic minority groups, and so disrupt the community and their religious life.
Mervyn Thomas, founder president of CSW, said, “Myanmar’s military junta is orchestrating a fraudulent election built on violence and control, and these latest actions confirm that it’s explicitly using the polls and its latest laws to attack religious minorities. Ordering Christians to have fun their holiest festival on a date dictated by the military is a big violation of freedom of faith or belief.
“Similarly, forcibly conscripting a young minister strips his community of leadership and represents the last word coercion—especially when it directly contradicts their very own law.
“It can be value noting that these incidents are two visible, emblematic cases which have been reported within the media, with similar rights violations and violence against civilians continuing unseen across the nation in light of blanket web blackouts, particularly in Chin and Kachin States.”
Thomas added that international leaders should see the upcoming election as a sham that should be condemned.
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