The former chair of the Kachin Baptist Convention (KBC), Baptist Reverend, Dr. Hkalam Samson is facing a further charge under Section 52 (a) of the Terrorism Act, according to the KBC.
Reverend Samson was already facing two charges under section 17 (1) of the Unlawful Association Act and section 505 (a) of the Penal Code for incitement bought against him by Major Thu Aung Zaw of the junta's Northern Regional Military Command.
On 14 February the extra charge under Section 52 (a) of the Terrorism Act was added to Reverend Samson’s charge sheet.
One of his acquaintances said: “At a 14 February trial in Myitkyina Prison charges under Section 52(a) of the Terrorism Act was added [to the charges] against Dr. Hkalam Samson. He is facing three trials.”
Reverend Samson was detained by the junta at Mandalay Tada-U International Airport as he was traveling to Bangkok in Thailand for a medical check-up.
He was taken from the airport to the junta’s Northern Regional Military Command (RMC) headquarters in Myitkyina.
Apparently, they charged him under Section 17 (1) for meeting with the Kachin Independence Organisation/Kachin Independence Army (KIO/KIA) chairman General N’Ban La and KIA General Sumlut Gun Maw in January 2022.
They also charged him under Section 505 (A) for defaming the state because he said: “Let’s establish a kingdom of Christ”, during a talk at a youth conference in Asia.
Whilst those two cases were being investigated he had a meeting with the Acting President of the National Unity Government (NUG) in exile, Duwa Lashi La; the NUG Minister of Natural Resources and Environmental Conservation, Dr. Tu Hkawng; and the NUG Deputy Minister of Education, Daw Ja Htoi Pan. The meeting resulted in Dr Samson receiving the third charge under Section 52 (a).
A lawyer working on the case said: “The charge under the Terrorism Act was added for meeting and praying with the NUG President; the [NUG] Natural Resources Minister Dr. Tu Hkawng; and the Education Minister, Teacher Ja Htoi Pan.“
Reverend Samson is a highly respected member of the Kachin community.
