[Field Story] Myanmar's former Baptist chair re-arrested on day of release

A local Baptist leader who was imprisoned in Myanmar after three years of military suppression has been re-arrested just hours after his release from prison.

The Rev. Hkalam Samson, a former president of Myanmar's Kachin Baptist Convention and religious freedom advocate, was re-arrested by the military on the 17th, hours after being released from prison, according to the Associated Press (AP).

Myanmar released 3,300 prisoners from April 13-16, the traditional New Year period, and Samson, who had been sentenced to six years in prison, was among those freed. But authorities raided his home in Myitkyina at around 10pm the same night and re-arrested him. A Baptist Christian who asked not to be named told AP that Samson was taken to Myitkyina Prison along with his wife and a fellow civil rights activist for questioning.

The Irrawaddy, an independent Myanmar media press based in Thailand, reported that Samson was re-arrested on April 18.

(ommitted)

According to the New York Times, Samson told Trump, “We are Christians in Myanmar, and we suffer extreme oppression and suffering from the military. We have very little opportunity for religious freedom,” he said.

In August 2019, a military officer in Tatmadaw complained about Samson's comments and filed a complaint against him, though the exact nature of the complaint is unclear, Christian persecution watchdog, International Christian Concern (ICC) reported. At the time, the World Kachin Council was one of the organizations that supported Samson's comments.

“Citizens of Myanmar have no freedom of expression anywhere, because even speaking the truth in the White House gets you in trouble,” Samson said in a statement after the complaint was filed.

Since the military coup, Christians have experienced extreme persecution in the Buddhist-majority country. According to Open Doors' 2024 World Watch List, Myanmar ranks 17th among the 50 countries where Christians are most persecuted, with very high levels of violence and persistent persecution throughout the country. Open Doors estimates that about 4.47 million (8%) of Myanmar's population of about 57 million are Christians.

“Government forces (in Myanmar) have continued to disproportionately target Christian villages and churches, often using aerial bombardment to kill Christian aid workers and pastors,” said Fact Sheet in January.

Source: Christian Today

When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears and delivers them out of all their troubles. The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit. Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all (Psalm 34:17-19)

Lord, we hear that civil war is tearing the land of Myanmar apart and that local church leaders are being arrested and the church is being persecuted.

Would you remove the suffering and hardship of the innocent and help us to experience your grace, which is faithful to deliver us from any hardship.

Our God who is our refuge, we trust that you already know the broken hearts of our brothers and sisters in Myanmar due to the civil war and persecution. Would you dwell among them with your Holy Spirit and give them the strength and faith to overcome all difficulties, and to be uncompromising and victorious before the world.

As Your power covers the people of Myanmar, may Your love be proclaimed in every corner of the nation, and may we see a revival take place as we have never seen before!

May a new wave of mission revival rise up in Myanmar and throughout Southeast Asia, praising Jesus alone!