27 May 2010: The Burmese military junta with an eye on the forthcoming general elections has begun to woo the Christian community.

Col. Hung Ngai, Tactical Commander and Chairman of the Chin State Peace and Development Council, donated Kyat 2 lakhs on May 16 to Bethel Church in Hakha town, Chin state western Burma.

“The Tactical commander donated Kyat 2 lakhs to our church,” said a church elder.

“We have never seen such donations coming from officials of the junta. It is likely to woo voters for the 2010 election to vote for the USDA party,” said a local.

Similarly, the commander donated to Zion Church and Calvary Church in Hakha town. The exact amount of donations is yet to be figured out.

Mr. Hung Ngai is the first tactical commander and Chairman of Chin state Peace and Development Council from among ethnic Chins, but he is a Buddhist.

It is learnt that the donated money could have been from the campaign budget of the Union Solidarity and Development Association Party, which is backed by the military junta.

The three churches, which received the donation accounts for two third of members from among Christians in Hakha town.-