Pastor in Myanmar sentenced to six years in prison
A Myanmar Baptist pastor has been sentenced to six years in prison on charges of terrorism, unlawful association and inciting opposition to the regime.
Pastor Hkalam Samson, former chair of the Kachin Baptist Convention, was sentenced in an internal court in Myitkyina Prison, in Kachin State’s capital, on Friday, April 7. Only his attorney and witnesses were present, according to The New York Times.
The 65-year-old has not been allowed to see his family, other than when his wife Zung Nyaw made an appearance in the witness box during the trial.
Mrs. Nyaw told the NYT that her husband had been submitted to harsh interrogations for 24 days after his arrest. She said he was a man who wanted to serve the common good rather than his own interests
“He is a man who knows God and loves God,” she said. “He is a preacher, so he has no enemies. He is a person who sacrifices himself and helps others.”
Pastor Samson was arrested at the airport on 4 December while on his way to Bangkok, Thailand, for medical treatment.
He was charged with “terrorism” and “unlawful association” for meetings he had with leaders of one of the ethnic armed groups and with ministers of the interim government-in-exile, the National Unity Government.
It was a prayer meeting in which he cited the Bible that led to the charge of incitement, NYT reported.
During a Zoom call with youth from Kachin who are living in other parts of Asia, pastor Samson called for people “to rebuild the nation”.
He was found guilty under Myanmar’s Penal Code section 505(a) which prohibits speech “with intent to cause …. fear or alarm to the public… whereby any person may be induced to commit an offence against the State or against the public tranquility.”
Since the army seized power in February 2021 this provision has been used to silence journalists, lawyers of activists and politicians.
A pastor in Myanmar, not Pastor Samson, sings during a worship service. Pastor Samson was sentenced to six years in prison.
His lawyer said they would appeal but was not optimistic about the outcome.
“It is too much to imprison an innocent person for six years,” Mr. Samson’s daughter, Hkalam Hparat Hkawn, told the newspaper. “Now they threaten not only our freedom of expression, but we are afraid to even breathe.”
Pray
Pray that Pastor Samson and his family will both be given comfort and peace in this time.
Pray that the appeal from his lawyer would be succesful.
Pray that the crisis in Myanmar, ongoing since a military coup in 2021, would improve and there would be peace in the land.
