No.09 - 05/2006
11 May 2006

Human Rights

Christian evangelists detained by Wa

A group of 38 people returning to Shan State from a Christian congregation held in northern Thailand were detained on 18 April by the Wa authorities in Mongmai, also known as Mongmau, north of the Wa capital Panghsang, according to Thai, Lahu and Shan sources:

Charges against them include giving sermons and distribution of papers without official permission, said a Shan source in Maesai. 19 of them, mostly young people in their teens, were released later, but the rest are reportedly still under custody.

"The Wa seem to believe that they have been sent into their areas to spy on their activities," said a Lahu source.

Another pointed out that prior to the recent arrest, some 250 people returning from another religious gathering, 23-27 March, at the village of Nawngkhio in Chiangmai's Chiangdao district, were held up and interrogated in Mongton across the border by Wa officials, before allowing them to go on their way.

Many believe the source of the Wa's current touchiness could be traced to the US indictment of 8 Wa leaders, including Bao Youxiang and Wei Hsuehkang, on 24 January 2005. At the time, the Wa had accused some missionaries and their families in Thailand for providing "false information" to the Americans.

Nevertheless, the Wa still need to handle the affair carefully, according to a Lahu source. "Some bigshots among them like Saw Lu, Hsarm Pleuk and Wei Hsaitang (Ta Htang) are Christians," he said.

Thousands of Lahu, Wa and Shans in eastern Shan State became converts following the arrival of the Baptist Mission headed by William Young in 1904.