10/16/2018 Myanmar (International Christian Concern) – On Oct 12, the United Wa State Army (UWSA) ordered two Salesian priests, three nuns from the Missionary Society of St. Paul, and three lay teachers to leave the Wa Hills.

They are the second group of Catholic clergy and laypeople who have been expelled from Myanmar’s northern Shan State which borders China.

One of the Salesian priests Father Raymond Than told ucanews.com that Wa officials issued the expulsion order for clergy who arrived in the region after 1992.

UWSA only allowed them to take what they could carry and told them that a local Catholic boarding school and an ‘Our Lady of Rosary’ chapel was being cordoned off. Officials also indicated that Christians who have been expelled are not likely to be allowed back to continue their mission activities.

China-backed UWSA in late September this year expelled a priest, five nuns and six lay teachers as part of a campaign since Sept. 13 to destroy churches, detain pastors and close religious schools. They suspect that some Christians are linked to US intelligence organizations and want to rid the region of foreign influence.

92 Lahu Christians were only released recently after signing a pledge that they would only worship privately at home, not in churches. Students who were studying at a Bible school were forcibly recruited into the Wa army have not been released yet.

Pastor Saw Ler Htoo of Calvary Burmese Church told ICC that leaders of local churches in Wa state are still negotiating with UWSA to seek a solution.

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