Two Baptist youth pastors were reportedly beaten by army-backed militia in Myanmar last week, according to Morning Star News sources.
The news organisation reports that sources told them the two Kachin youth pastors – Mading Zaidan Bawm Ying and Lagyi Naw Awn – were beaten with rifle butts by members of the Border Guard Force and that Bawm Ying’s wife was also attacked. Bawm Ying was then reportedly detained overnight by soldiers after the attack.
The incident reportedly took place Sadon village in the township Waingmaw and was reportedly sparked when the youth pastors attempted to intervene as BFG members were damaging and destroying homes of the predominantly Christian Kachin people while ostensibly there to clear drains.
Rev Dr Hkalam Samson, secretary of the Kachin Baptist Convention, told Morning Star News that Bawm Ying had injuries to his mouth and a bruised face.
He said that while militia members regularly abused civilians, this assault drew attention because it involved the church leaders.
Bawm Ying’s wife told the Kachin News Group that the soldiers punched and hit her husband when he tried to stop them demolishing fences at their home.
“I told them not to beat him,” she was quoted as saying. “I was dragged and punched twice in my jaw. They also punched Pastor Lagyi Naw Awn, who came to handle the case. Two soldiers held my husband against the wall, and their leader punched him wholeheartedly. I saw him vomiting blood.”
Samson said Bawm Ying was released the next day after negotiations with the soldiers.
“We asked the militia’s leaders to make sure that the soldiers don’t use guns to attack civilians in the future. So, their leaders promised that they won’t do this again.”
