BAPTIST PASTOR SHOT DEAD IN MYANMAR, LEAVING ANGST IN LONG-RUNNING CONFLICT

A Baptist minister identified as Reverend Nammye Hkun Jaw Li, aged 47, has been killed in a tragic attack in Myanmar's Kachin state. The incident adds to the gloom of the ongoing conflict in the region. Li, known for his role in the Kachin Baptist Convention, was killed by shots to his head and stomach while in his computer shop. The attack was carried out by three unknown assailants, UCA News reported. Li's death raised deep concern among residents of Kachin, an area that has been hit by violence since a military coup in 2021, also known as the Tatmadaw. Aside from being a religious leader, Li is also a prominent figure in local anti-military protests and community efforts against drug trafficking in Kachin. He was active in the Kachin Baptist Convention (KBC) as well as the Anti-Drug Group, Pat Jasan. The tragic incident comes amid continuing unrest in small towns in Kachin, where the local community is feeling the brunt of the conflict. While families and local residents mourned Li's loss, they also called for justice for the killing, although there have been no official charges against any specific group in connection with the attack. The conflict in Kachin has resulted in many deaths and refugees since the military coup. This region, with its majority Christian population, became a place of tension between religion and politics, especially with aggressive military actions against Christian entities accused of supporting rebel groups. Condemnation of the violence in Myanmar has been growing louder from the international community, which condemns the brutal acts taking place in regions with a strong Christian religious presence, such as Kachin. The increasingly heated conditions of the conflict in the country indicate the need for joint efforts to overcome the devastating effects of political tension and violence that indiscriminately take the lives of civilians.