06/28/2022 Myanmar (International Christian Concern) – Ever since the military deposed Myanmar’s democratically elected government in the February 2021 coup, the country has been in a state of civil war. The military has committed many acts of violence against civilians who resist its rule, in addition to unprovoked attacks against innocent citizens.
Many churches have been burned and towns torched in the military’s ruthless campaign of violence. Religious buildings have made especially tantalizing targets for rocket and arson attacks, given that the Buddhist-nationalist military is prone to violence against religious minorities.
On June 23, military junta soldiers burned Thantlang Baptist Church (TBC), located in the town of Thantlang in Myanmar’s majority-Christian Chin state. TBC is the oldest and largest church in the town.
TBC was razed in the 30th attack the military has made on the village since October 2021. The military has burned eleven more churches and over 1,000 homes in Thantlang alone throughout its many attacks on the village.
In the same attack that left Thantlang Baptist Church a burned-out husk, the military also destroyed another church called The Believer’s Church. Soldiers also destroyed the entire compound of Basic Education High School, a local school that was comprised of several buildings.
For interviews, please contact: press@persecution.org
