ICC Note:
Two members of the Kachin Baptist Convention in Myanmar were sentenced to two and four years in prison under the Unlawful Association Act. The two pastors were abducted by Myanmar Army troops on Dec. 24, 2016. A few weeks later, the information was released that the pastors have been detained for helping the Northern Alliance spread wrong information. The secretary of the Kachin Baptist Convention in Mong Mawng said that the pastors are innocent and that they were helping journalists visit the site of a Catholic church that was damaged by the airstrikes. This case is just a reminder that human rights defenders in Myanmar do not have much freedom and are often persecuted if they stand up against the government.
10/28/2017 North Korea (Irrawady) – Lashio Township Court in northern Shan State sentenced two Kachin pastors to two and four years imprisonment under three charges including unlawful association on Friday.
Dumdaw Nawng Latt, 65, received four years and three months under Article 17[1] of the Unlawful Association Act, section 8 of Import/Export Act and section 500 of the Defamation Act in the Penal Code. Langjaw Gam Seng, 35, was sentenced to two years and three months under the first two charges.
Two members of the Kachin Baptist Convention in Mong Ko were abducted by Myanmar Army troops on Dec. 24, 2016, leaving no knowledge for the family on their whereabouts.
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