09/02/2021 Myanmar (International Christian Concern) – As the fight between the Burmese Army (Tatmadaw) and the ethnic militia groups continues, more and more cases of churches being targeted and desecrated are happening especially in Christian-majority states, such as Chin.
After ICC revealed the desecration of a Baptist church in Chin state’s Falam township, ICC learns that another Catholic church in the same state occupied by the Tatmadaw was also desecrated during the soldiers’ uninvited stay.
UCA News reports the occupation of St. John Catholic Church in the village of Chat, Mindat township. Tatmadaw soldiers reportedly took away the consecrated host, opened a tabernacle and destroyed the locked cabinets. In addition, clothes and other items were scattered on the floor while the open tabernacle and destroyed locked cabinets could be seen in photos shared by residents.
Another Baptist church in Chat also had their Bibles and the generator destroyed.
The Tatmadaw is especially hostile towards Christians in Myanmar, not only because of their religion, but also because many of them belong to the country’s ethnic minority groups seeking autonomy. Knowing how their Christian faith is sacred to them, the soldiers venomously target their place of worship, grieving many Christians and their leaders.
Since the democratically elected government led by Aung Sang Suu Kyi was ousted by the Tatmadaw in February, tens of thousands of people have fled into jungles and IDP camps while others, mostly Christians, have sheltered in churches given the intense fighting in Chin state beginning in May.
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