Police question Kachin Baptist leader after peace demonstration

KBC president Rev. Gyung Hkawng (left) and General Secretary Rev. Dr. Samson (right) led a peaceful demonstration on 3rd anniversary of Kachin war in northern Burma, which fell on June 9,2014. Photo : Kachin News Group

Police authorities in Myitkyina, the Kachin state capital questioned Reverend Samson, general secretary of Kachin Baptist Convention (KBC) following a church led demonstration marking the 3rd anniversary of the Kachin war which fell on June 9th, according to church officials.

The questioning took place on Monday afternoon at the government administrative office in Myitkyina's Shwezet quarter, the area in which Rev. Samson’s lives, according to Rev. Lama Yaw, head of KBC's media department told the Kachin News Group (KNG).

After questioning Rev. Samson and taking his personal details police headed to the administrative office in the town's Shanzu South quarter, the area where the KBC office is located. There they made further inquiries about the KBC general secretary, Rev. Lama Yaw said.

The police have not actually made an official appearance at either the KBC headquarters or Rev Samson's home. Many Kachin were upset with the way in which police authorities dealt with the situation.

The protest marking the third anniversary of the Kachin conflict was quite large according to participants and involved several hundred marchers. The protest was led by Rev. Dr. Samson, and KBC president Rev. Gyung Hkawng. Marchers walked along the ten-mile long Sumprabum road connecting the Shatapru Kachin Cultural Manau Park and the Kachin Theological College in Nawng Nang where the march concluded.

On the day of the protest KBC issued a statement calling for the end to the Kachin conflict and the creation of a true federal system of government in Burma.