The Christmas Eve concert of a Christian minority group in northern Burma was systematically disturbed by the country’s ruling junta, local sources told the Kachin News Group.
The event took place in Manje town, or Mansi in Burmese, in Bhamo district in Kachin State, on December 24, while the ethnic Kachin Baptists in Manje Township celebrated during a Christmas Eve concert at the Town Kachin Baptist Church, Church sources said.
They said about 80 concert-goers had their motorcycles seized by town Police, who conducted a large-scale seizure of unlicensed-motorcycles on the main road in front of the Church, from 7 p.m. to 2 a.m. Burma Standard Time.
They also said the owners of the detained vehicles were forced to apply for licenses by the policemen. The cost for a single license will be between Kyat 100,000 (US$104) and Kyat 200,000 (US$208), said residents.In Manje, like other towns in Kachin state, all civilians and government personnel use cheap Chinese motorcycles imported from the border for their primary transportation.
The operation of unlicensed motorcycles is common in the town, but, this is the first night operation by police to seize unlicensed motorcycles, according to residents of Manje.
Church sources said it was highly unusual that U Kyaw Htay, the head of the Town Police, conducted the search with about 7 other officers during the Christmas Eve Concert and so near the Kachin Baptist Church.
Hundreds of church members were celebrating during a three-day Christmas celebration and inauguration of the two-storey Rev. Lai Wa Memorial Hall in the Church compound, starting from Dec. 24, said participants.
The Baptist followers said, it was the 13th joint Christmas celebration at the Church, which is held every four years. It was also attended by Baptist followers from small churches under Manje Kachin Baptist Church, in different places in the township.
On Dec. 25 and 26, all worshipers danced the famous Kachin cultural Manau dance in the Church open space. But, the Manau Poles were removed immediately after the completion of the performance by order of the local Burmese military authorities, said the Church sources.
In Bhamo district, the ruling junta usually authorizes the Kachin Manau festival, but, it ordered the removal of the traditional Manau Poles after the festival, said Kachin cultural leaders in Bhamo.
On Nov. 12, the junta demolished the Kachin Manau grounds in Aung Ta village, near downtown Bhamo, while it was paving with thin concrete for the Manau festival on Nov. 27-28. The Manau Poles were forcibly removed from the circular Manau field again on Dec. 10 by the strict order of Bhamo military authorities.
