11/05/2018 Myanmar (International Christian Concern) – On October 24th, the Myanmar Army detained 15 members of the Kachin Baptist Convention (KBC) in Nam San Yang village in Kachin state near the Chinese border. The group of 15 Christians, eight women and seven men, were allegedly arrested for traveling in a conflict zone without proper authorization.

The group was traveling via motorbike to Myitkyina after their trip to provide aid to the Kachin internally displaced persons (IDPs) when they were arrested and taken into questioning by military officials. The KBC has written to the Kachin State government demanding that the detainees be released, as they were there on humanitarian grounds. After a few days in jail, three people were released. Yesterday, the remaining 12 members of the church were released around 2:30 p.m. at the Myitkyina police station.

All 15 detainees were released unharmed after being imprisoned for 11 days and frequently interrogated. One source said that the group was suspected of being linked to the Kachin Independence Army (KIA), but once proven innocent they all were released.

The KIA is an armed ethnic group based out of Kachin state. The group has beenin conflict with the Burmese army, after a ceasefire that was signed in 1994 collapsed. As a result of the violence, more than 100,000 people have had to flee their homes, taking shelter in IDP camps across the region. With government restricting aid from coming into KIA-controlled areas, the challenges for residents living in these regions is deteriorating.

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