In an unusual directive, Christians in several regions of Myanmar are being instructed to celebrate Christmas ahead of schedule. This order comes as the country’s Military Council in Kachin State mandates that festivities conclude by December 20, to avoid clashing with the elections set for December 28.
Churches located in Myitkyina, Putao, and Tanai are directly affected by this order, leaving local communities dissatisfied. However, there is a palpable fear of arrest for non-compliance, which could lead to charges of rebellion or defying government orders.
A resident of Tanai expressed their discontent to Kachin News, stating, “I feel this is an act of religious repression. I have never experienced this in all my life as a Christian. The way they are forcing this is like forcing someone to hold their birthday party on a day that is not their actual birthday. Who would be happy with that? And this celebration is infinitely more important than one’s own birthday; it is the most sacred festival for every Christian.”
The Christian community’s frustrations with Myanmar’s military leadership are mounting. Recently, the disappearance of a 23-year-old reverend, Pau Muan Lian, has raised alarms. It was later revealed that he was forcibly conscripted by the military, despite the existence of a law exempting religious figures from conscription.
Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW), an organization advocating for religious freedom, argues that these actions are part of a broader strategy to undermine religious and ethnic minority leaders, thereby destabilizing their communities.
Mervyn Thomas, founder president of CSW, commented, “Myanmar’s military junta is orchestrating a fraudulent election built on violence and control, and these latest actions confirm that it is explicitly using the polls and its new laws to attack religious minorities. Ordering Christians to celebrate their holiest festival on a date dictated by the military is a significant violation of freedom of religion or belief.
“Similarly, forcibly conscripting a young minister strips his community of leadership and represents the ultimate coercion—especially when it directly contradicts their own law.
“It is also worth noting that these incidents are two visible, emblematic cases that have been reported in the media, with similar rights violations and violence against civilians continuing unseen across the nation in light of blanket internet blackouts, particularly in Chin and Kachin States.”
Thomas further insisted that international observers should view the forthcoming election with skepticism and denounce it as a sham.
This article was originally written by www.christiantoday.com
