Mizzima

The former president of the Kachin Baptist Convention (KBC), Reverend Dr Hkalam Samson, has been sentenced to six years in prison by a court in Myanmar on Friday, reports Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW).

Reverend Dr Samson was jailed on charges of unlawful association, defaming the State and terrorism.

Reverend Dr Samson, an outspoken voice for human rights for the Kachin people, was arrested at Mandalay International Airport on 5 December 2022 as he was attempting to travel to Bangkok. He has been held in Myitkyina prison since his arrest, CSW says.

A court in Myitkyina, Kachin State, sentenced Reverend Dr Samson, who serves as Chairman of the Kachin National Consultative Assembly, under Section 17 (1) of the Unlawful Association Act, Section 505 (a) of the Penal Code and Section 52 (a) of the Terrorism Act.

He was given three years on anti-terrorism charges for meeting a senior member of the National Unity Government -- a self-declared parallel administration dominated by former lawmakers from Suu Kyi's party.

The court jailed him for another two years for unlawful association for visiting a rebel-held town near the Chinese border, and one year for breaching a law against undermining the military authorities, over a speech he gave.

The Assistance Association for Political Prisoners, a local monitoring group, says more than 20,000 people have been arrested on political charges since the coup, with more than 17,000 still in detention.

Reverend Samson has been a courageous supporter of Kachin people’s rights. He served as President of the KBC from 2018-2022 and previously for two terms as General Secretary from 2010-2018. He is an internationally respected advocate for freedom of religion or belief and human rights in Myanmar. In 2019 he travelled to Washington, DC to participate in the International Religious Freedom Ministerial Conference, where he was among religious leaders from around the world who met with the United States President in the White House.

Additional reporting by AFP