Hearing the news that Reverend Samson had been arrested and imprisoned was like hearing that Myanmar’s military regime had imprisoned one of our own.
We’ve worked with Reverend Dr Hkalam Samson for decades. Many of the team fondly remember his visit to our office in 2018, where he led our staff prayers with faith, humility and humour. His unjust imprisonment on trumped-up charges is one of the most alarming developments in Myanmar/Burma since the military coup in 2021.
To arrest, jail and prosecute one of the country’s most prominent Christian pastors is a sign of how hostile this regime is to religious and ethnic communities.
Rev Samson has dedicated his life in service to others: from speaking out against the human rights abuses that religious and ethnic communities are suffering, to hosting memorial services for the victims of military air strikes; from providing humanitarian aid and support to those in need, to hosting a prayer meeting with democracy leaders.
In the eyes of the military junta, that makes him a threat.
A travesty of justice which must be overturned
Since the coup, over 20,000 people have been imprisoned; Rev Samson is one of several religious leaders among that staggering number. He has been prosecuted – like most religious and political prisoners – on trumped-up charges under counter-terrorism laws, which are routinely used by the military to silence opposition.
In April, Rev Samson was sentenced to six years in prison on charges of ‘incitement’, ‘unlawful association’ and an additional charge under the counter-terrorism law.
His arrest came after he held a prayer meeting with members of the opposition National Unity Government (NUG), and additional meetings with the democratic and ethnic opposition.
'[He is] a man who is more interested in the common good than his own affairs. He is a man who knows God and loves God. He is a preacher, so he has no enemies. He is a person who sacrifices himself and helps others.’ – Zung Nyaw, Rev Samson’s wife
An intense targeting of religious minorities
Rev Samson’s arrest and imprisonment comes amid one of the most serious human rights and humanitarian crises in Myanmar’s history.
The military regime is inherently motivated by a religious nationalist agenda, which sees Myanmar as a Buddhist nation and wants to crush non-Burman, non-Buddhist ethnic and religious communities. The military has long stirred up anti-Muslim hatred, resulting in the genocide of the Rohingyas five years ago, and a wider campaign of discrimination, hate speech and violence against the Muslim population throughout the country.
And it’s become clear that the military have Christians in their sights once again: while everyone in Myanmar is suffering the consequences of the coup, it does appear that Christians have been targeted with particular intensity. Several pastors have been murdered and others jailed in Chin State alone, and several hundred churches in Chin, Kachin, Karen and Karenni states have been shelled and destroyed. Meanwhile, in parts of Chin state, new regulations came into force this year which required Christians to register seven days prior to attending worship.
Signs of hope?
Together with other organisations, we’ve been campaigning since the coup to secure sanctions targeting the flow money, arms and resources which keep the military regime afloat.
You may have been one of many supporters who wrote to the Foreign Secretary asking the UK government to do more to end the supply of aviation fuel to the military junta through sanctions – if so, thank you!
Earlier this year we welcomed new sanctions imposed by the governments of Australia, Canada, the UK and the United States. Targeting sanctions to reduce the military’s access to finance, fuel and arms is vital – these fresh rounds of sanctions are meaningful steps in cutting the lifeline of arms, aviation fuel and resources which keep the military regime afloat.
But it isn’t enough. We won’t stop advocating and campaigning until we see the implementation of a global arms embargo which prevents the military from getting its hands on additional weapons with which it can wage violence on those calling for democracy.
Nothing is impossible with God
Because you refuse to stay silent, the UK Government hears the collective voice speaking up on behalf of Rev Samson and the people of Myanmar. Never underestimate the importance of the role you play!
Although our hearts are heavy at the scale of the suffering, we follow Rev Samson’s example of being a champion for human rights, and we will not give up.
#FreeRevSamson
Visit csw.org.uk/FreeRevSamson to email your MP asking them to publicly call for Rev Samson’s release.
You can also add your name to our open letter petition to the UK Foreign Secretary asking the UK government to increase political pressure to help secure his release. Sign online at csw.org.uk/RevSamson
If you’d like us to send you campaign cards to give out in your church, email us at admin@csw.org.uk