CHIN STATE, Burma — The Myanmar military killed at least 10 people in January in Chin State’s Matupi township, and days later, military helicopter gunships bombed a camp for displaced people, killing six.
The Matupi massacre began when the Myanmar army, known as the Tatmadaw, arrested 11 people Jan. 6–7, relief group Barnabas Fund reported. During the next two days, the bodies of 10 of them were found. The throats of nine had been cut. Among the dead were 13-year-old La Nang and journalist Tui Dim, who was visiting from India, according to the report.
The air strikes happened Jan. 8–9 in Loikaw, the capital of Kayah state, according to The Irawaddy, a news outlet covering Myanmar and Southeast Asia. Six civilians were killed, according to the Karenni Nationalities Defense Force. Other reports said the victims included a 7-year-old girl and her 18-year-old sister.
Chin State is 90% Christian, and Kayah State has a large Christian population, according to Barnabas Fund.
The Tatmadaw, which has persecuted Christians and other ethnic groups for years, seized power in a coup Feb. 1, 2021.
Myanmar, formerly known as Burma, is No. 12 on Open Doors’ 2022 World Watch List of places most difficult to be a Christian.
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