Military orders Christians to celebrate Christmas early, forcibly conscripts reverend in lead-up to sham elections

The Military Council in Myanmar’s Kachin State has reportedly ordered all Christian churches in townships designated for the country’s 28 December elections, including Myitkyina, Putao and Tanai, to hold their Christmas celebrations before 20 December to avoid conflict with the elections.

Churches in the state, which has been subject to a blanket internet blackout for over a year, are reportedly complying out of fear, as local sources including a former ward administrator have warned that celebrating after the deadline could result in arrests under charges of ‘disobeying government orders’ or ‘rebellion’.

A Christian resident from Tanai told Kachin News: ‘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 order follows the forcible abduction and conscription of 23-year-old Chin Christian Reverend Pau Muan Lian, associated with the Assemblies of God Church in Yangon, who went missing on his way home on 30 November in Yangon township and was confirmed on 8 December to have been abducted by the military council for mandatory military service training.

Myanmar’s People’s Military Service Law, also known as the conscription law, explicitly exempts members of religious orders, including Christian clergy, under Section 2(F), however the detention of Reverend Muan Lian demonstrates how the law can be weaponised to specifically target religious and ethnic minority leaders, removing them from their communities and disrupting religious life.

CSW’s Founder President Mervyn Thomas said: ‘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. The international community must unequivocally condemn the 28 December election, recognising it not only as a political scheme but also as a significant driver of religious persecution. States must also urgently ensure that these violations of fundamental human rights are documented and addressed at the highest level.’

Note to Editors:

1. Chin and Kachin States are predominantly Christian ethnic minority areas that have been subject to widespread, pervasive, military-targeted attacks, including the bombing of churches and civilian infrastructure. These areas have also faced prolonged communication restrictions, including blanket internet blackouts lasting between one and three years since the coup.