Myanmar: Biblical Seminary Shelled By Burmese Army, Four Injured

Burmese Army attacked a Baptist seminary in north Mayanmar, conducted a series of three attacks. Reports confirm that four people were injured in the dormitory. The incident unfolded reportedly on Thursday, November 3, 2022.

Media reports reveal that the theological seminary in Kutkai, Shan state came under a series of three attacks. At the time of the attack, there was no active fighting between the junta forces and the local ethnic armed groups. Details emerged that the victim were hit shrapnel. Those injured were identified as 24-year-old Myitung Doi, 27-year-old Ndau Awng San, 21-year-old Nhkhum Sut Ring Awng and 22-year-old Sumlut Brang San. All of them sustained injuries that are not life threatening.

A video shared by a local Kachin Christian named Marip La Hkwang, on the Facebook, showed the extent of damage to the building caused by the attacks. Another similar video showed an injured student transferred for the medical treatment. A Kachin local told the media that this kind of attack is a threat to the Kachin nation.  “They (Military Council) hate our Kachin people so much. This is why we are being targeted and attacked. This looks like a planned shooting. My heart hurts so much. Since this happened, we Kachin people must be careful.”

“The attack against this Kachin Bible school was certainly not an accident,” said Gina Goh, International Christian Concern’s regional manager for Southeast Asia. “Instead, the Tatmadaw deliberately targeted a Christian facility knowing how important the faith is to Kachin people. This despicable junta regime should not be tolerated any further by the international community and needs to be removed at once,” he continued.

Previously, another Baptist Church was attacked by the Burmese Army on October 30. The church was partially destroyed by the shelling. There is a Christian majority in Mayanmar’s Ethnic Kachin, where more than 90 percent of the people adhere to the Christian faith.  

Ethnic Kachin in Myanmar have been a constant target because they have a robust military. Since, February 2021, after the junta mounted a coup d’état; the Burmese military has been carrying out indiscriminate attacks against the civilians targeting schools, villages, and religious buildings. The Burmese army has killed more than 2,400 people and jailed over 16,000 people till date.