Myanmar : Har Kha Military Council issued an order not to gather more than five people in 14 churches and schools

Chin State, where most Christians live, Hakha city Residents told RFA that the military council issued a local order to close shops in the New Town area starting April 22, and to restrict gatherings of more than five people in churches.

On April 12th, after 9:00 a.m., the CDF teams escorted the VIP convoy to a house in the New Town neighborhood. The order of the military council states that the prohibition order was issued because some adults were injured when they attacked shops and churches for protection.

He also said that this order will last until June 20, and if it is not followed, action will be taken according to existing laws.

A Hakha resident, who did not want to be named for security reasons, told RFA that the information contained in the military council's order is only an allegation and the ban is unacceptable.

"They indicated in the order that they accepted and fired from shops, then people's homes, and churches. We cannot accept that word of acceptance."

The New City Ward is between the State Military Council office and the minister's residences, and the Military Council convoy has to pass through that quarter when going to and from the office.

There are 64 Christian churches in the city of Hakha, and there are 14 churches that are prohibited from gathering more than five people in the new neighborhood. Locals also said that there are more than thirty shops that have been closed.

Locals say that this order of the military council will affect the local economy and make it difficult for the Christians who worship every Sunday.

Another Hakha resident, who did not want to be named, said that the military council's order was an order to oppress the people.

A resident of Hakha said that doing this is oppressing people who have nothing to do with it.

"The main thing is to oppress the people and let the people suffer and the people suffer, on both sides. For the public, there are hand jobs and wages. When you have to work for a day and eat for a day, it is quite difficult."

A Christian pastor in the city of Hakha, who asked not to be named for security reasons, told RFA that they are preparing to ask the military council to ease the ban.

"At the moment, we need to relax. The main thing is the funeral, and also to relax the time when they go to church regularly. If we really have to, why close the shops in order to get the shops open again? There are three things to do with security, and I have to present them."

Regarding these statements, RFA contacted State Secretary U Aung Cho, Chin State spokesman of the Military Council, but he did not answer the phone.

"Not allowing more than five people to gather in a church is a flagrant violation of the right to worship. "

The administrative officer of the Chin Human Rights Group, Sulai Man Hare Liang, said that the restriction on people not gathering in temples is a violation of the right to freedom of worship.

"Now, because of the fighting in Ha-Kha, because of the shooting, we are banning religious churches. Not allowing more than five people to stay in a church is an insult to banning religion. Not allowing more than five people to gather in a church can be said to be a flagrant violation of the right to worship."

On April 12, the CDF Hakha group attacked a convoy of ministers of the Military Council at the intersection of New City Ward. Six people including three ministers were injured in the incident.