20 August 2010: Military junta authorities have destroyed a cross which was 23 feet high and three feet wide built by Christians in the prayer garden near Chauhyo village, Makui tract, Mindat township, Chin state western Burma on 24 July.The order to destroy the cross was issued by the district religious leader, a monk in the eastern monastery, chairmen of the block peace and development council, township peace and development council, district and township magistrates in Mindat Township.
They forced Pu Thang Nang and Pu Bawihaw who built the cross to destroy it.
“They destroyed the cross but we don’t know why the authorities asked them to do it,” said a local.
The wooden cross was built with the permission of higher authorities on 7 April 2008. Later was changed to a concrete cross.
Although 80 per cent of Chin people in Chin state are Christians, the junta has prohibited building new Christian churches and the cross. However, pagodas are increasing year by year.
Pu Terah, Field Director of Chin Human Rights Organization (CHRO) told Khonumthung News, “It is violation of religious freedom and discrimination between Christians and other religions. It clearly shows that there is no freedom to worship in Burma.”
Similarly, authorities destroyed crosses in other townships of Chin state and replaced them by pagodas. In 2002 March, a cross in Boltlang valley of Matupi town was destroyed on the orders of Mr. Ye Mint, second general-in- chief. - Khonumthung News
Source:http://khonumthung.org/news.php?readmore=270
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