11/02/2021 Myanmar (International Christian Concern) – A Catholic priest in Myanmar’s Shan state was forced to kneel at gunpoint and threatened by the Burmese Army (Tatmadaw) as he was traveling between towns.
According to the Chindwin news, the 46-year-old priest was traveling within Nguang Shwe Region, South Shan State on October 30. He and his companion were stopped at a checkpoint around 3 pm. The junta soldiers then accused him of supporting People’s Defense Force (PDF) soldiers and threatened him by saying, “A bullet is all it takes to kill you.”
“The car was stopped, unloaded and all the passengers’ bags were inspected by the junta soldiers. After that, the priest was blindly accused of collecting funds for PDF and supporting them by buying medicines and guns,” one of the passengers told Mizzima News.
“He was then told that a bullet will be all it takes to shoot him dead if he is seen traveling one more time again,” he added.
In addition, Tatmadaw soldiers also accused the priest of planning to use a bag of fertilizer for making an explosive device, when in fact he intends to use it for his garden.
As the coup continues, tension rises between the Tatmadaw and Christian leaders, especially those of ethnic minorities. A Chin pastor was recently killed for putting out a fire for his congregant, while many other pastors have been detained and their whereabouts still unknown.
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