By Jar Seng / MPA
Myanmar’s military junta has imposed new restrictions on Christian prayer services in Sittwe, the capital of Rakhine State, local sources reported. The move is the latest in a series of measures targeting religious freedom in the region.
Despite the Arakan Army (AA) controlling most towns in Rakhine, the military junta maintains control over certain townships and imposes restrictions, including on religious symbols and practices of minority Christians in Sittwe.
In September, police under the military council ordered a Christian church in Sittwe to remove a crucifix recently installed on its roof.
“Last month, we installed a cross, a symbol of our faith, as a way to identify the Christian church here, but the police came and demanded it be removed. We prayed before putting it up, so we refused to take it down ourselves, and instead asked them to do it on their own,” said a Christian congregant who preferred to remain anonymous.
Additionally, Christians are forced to submit a list of attendees and obtain authorization documents from relevant police stations to attend Sunday worship as instructed by the police under the military council.
“Our church has an official permit from authorities, yet the police now force us to submit attendance lists and schedules for Sunday services and request authorization at the station,” stated a Christian who requested anonymity for security concerns.
Various Christian congregations have roots in Sittwe, including Roman Catholic, Rakhine Baptist, Chin Baptist, Anglican, Independent Evangelism, Mara Evangelism, AG, Seveveth Day, PCM, Free Methodist, COC, Good News, CJC, Dynamic, EFC, and others.
Sittwe was home to 147,899 people, including Christians, Muslims, Hindus, and Buddhists, according to the 2014 census. Among them are only around 170 Christians.
Restricting the worship rights of minority Christians in this way interferes with human rights and the freedom of religious belief, commented a human rights activist.
“These actions reflect an attempt by the defeated military council to suppress freedom of belief. The line between religion and politics needs to be respected,” noted a minority rights activist, Ko Htoo.
In addition, concerns about restrictions on religious freedom have also arisen among Christian minorities in AA-controlled townships.
A Sittwe resident said, “In June, AA detained five local Christian pastors in Kyauktaw. The local Christian minorities are worried about not having the freedom to worship.”
In Sittwe, law and order are deteriorating, with an increase in home break-ins, theft, and robberies, leading to reduced public movement, according to local sources.
The junta reportedly built a six-foot-high electric fence along the Sittwe coastal road in August 2024 to prevent AA entry.
Since November 13, 2023, the military council has blockaded trade routes to Rakhine State, causing unemployment and soaring prices for locals.
