Church leaders in Myanmar are seeking the re-opening of churches and a Bible school that were forcibly closed by China-backed militia in the Wa region of Myanmar’s northern Shan State in September.

According to UCA News, local media quoted Nyi Rang, spokesperson from the UWSA’s liaison office in Lashio, northern Shan State, as saying that a meeting of UWSA senior officials has decided to allow reopening of Lahu and Kachin Baptist churches in Wa region.

Reverend Lazarus, general secretary of the Lahu Baptist Convention in the major town of Kyaing Tong, said he was hoping for an official announcement from the United Wa State Army (UWSA) on reopening church institutions.

So far 52 churches have been shut down, three have been destroyed and 92 Lahu Baptist leaders detained, while some 20 female Bible students continued to be detained by the UWSA. A similar number of male Bible students managed to escape in the last two months and are now seeking refuge at a Lahu Baptist church in Kyaing Tong.

The United Wa State Army (UWSA) still hasn’t sent out an official notification on the reopening of churches to either Lahu Baptist Convention or Kachin Baptist Convention.

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