BANGKOK (AP) — A prominent Christian church leader and human rights advocate from Myanmar’s Kachin ethnic minority was detained by the authorities just hours after he was released from prison under an amnesty by the military government, a relative, a colleague and local media said Thursday. The Rev. Hkalam Samson, former head of the Kachin Baptist Convention and chairman of the Kachin National Consultative Assembly, was among the 3,300 prisoners released nationwide on Wednesday to mark the traditional Thingyan New Year holiday. The assembly is an umbrella organization uniting religious and civil society groups with political organizations promoting Kachin rights, including autonomy from Myanmar’s central government. Kachin state, in northern Myanmar, has been the scene of intermittent warfare for decades between the army and well-organized and -armed Kachin guerrillas. |
United Methodists endorse change that could give regions more say on LGBTQ and other issues4 die in fiery crash as Pennsylvania police pursued their vehicleNet neutrality restored as FCC votes to regulate internet providersAmazon unit plans to invest $11 billion to data center in IndianaJodie Comer wows in shimmering black and white dress with cutGoogle parent reports another quarter of robust growth, rolls out firstNew York City to require warning labels for sugary foods and drinks in chain restaurantsWhite Sox drop to 3Taylor Swift flew her private jets 178,000 miles last year for her Eras TourThe TikTok law kicks off a new showdown between Beijing and Washington. What's coming next?