09/18/2018 Myanmar (International Christian Concern) – According to news reports, Myanmar’s largest and best-armed non-state army is detaining several Christian clergy members to investigate their activities while destroying churches in its self-proclaimed autonomous region in the remote northeastern hills.

Since September 13, United Wa State Army (UWSA), the military arm of the de facto ruling party United Wa State Party (UWSP) has conducted these activities in order to “find out what the [Christian] missionaries are doing and what are their intensions.”

In the statement issued by USWA dated Sept. 6, it says that all churches, missionaries, school teachers, and clergy members must be investigated and that a list of all churches in Wa-controlled areas must be drawn up.

Except for one church that was built in 1992 with the government’s permission. Churches built after 1989 must be destroyed, and new ones cannot be built to prevent people from converting to Christianity.

The self-declared Wa state is not officially recognized by the Myanmar government but is backed by China. Its official language is Chinese and uses renminbi (Chinese Yuan) as its currency. Analysts believe that UWSA’s latest move might be parallel to China’s repression of Christian faith and a result of Chinese pastor John Cao’s missionary work in Wa state, which irked both the Chinese government and UWSP and landed him in jail.

For interviews with Gina Goh, ICC’s Regional Manager, please contact Olivia Miller, Communications Coordinator: [email protected].