HAKAH (UCAN): Bishop Lucius Hre Kung of the Diocese of Hakha, in Chin state, western Myanmar, called for the release of Father Noel Hrang Tin Thang and a catechist after they were detained by the Chinland Defense Force [CDF] while travelling from the town of Surkhua to Hakah on July 26.
The two are from the Church of Our Lady of the Rosary Parish in Surkhua in Hakha.
Bishop Kung he expressed concern for the well being of the priest and the catechist saying in an August 1 letter: “I call on the concerned leaders of the CDF to immediately release the pair.”
Local Catholics have expressed alarm and prayed for the immediate the pair’s release.
Father Tin Thang has been helping dozens of displaced people including the elderly, women and children who took refuge in the parish following clashes in early June, according to Church sources.
The CDF said on August 1 that the priest and catechist are in good health.
The group accused Father Tin Thang of giving information to the military junta, getting medical support from them and urging locals to accept their support.
The group twice warned clergy not to contact the junta and said that they had to arrest Father Tin Thang as he failed to obey.
“We will release them only after our demands of transferring the priest from Surkhua to Hakha and signing letters of recommendation from two Church leaders are fulfilled,” the group said.
The CDF is one of several independent civil resistance groups fighting the military after it seized power on February 1 and ousted the elected government [Sunday Examiner, February 7].
Using homemade weapons, it has inflicted heavy casualties on junta forces in a conflict that has raged in Chin state since early May.
More than 18,000 people have been displaced in the state and neighbouring Magway and Sagaing divisions, according to a United Nations report on July 30.
Priests have been targeted, with the military arresting eight from Chin and Kachin states and Mandalay division in May and June.
