Kachin people in the United States protested in front of the Myanmar Embassy on December 17th, to demand the immediate release of Reverend Doctor Hkalam Samson, who has been unjustly arrested and detained by the Military Council.

An official bishop of KBC-USA told KNG that “a prayer was held from morning to noon at Calvary Baptist Church for the speedy release of Rev.Dr. Hkalam Samson,” and then protested in front of the Myanmar Embassy until 3:00 PM.

“We mainly called for the Reverend to be released by the Military Council as soon as possible. After praying in the morning, we protested in front of the embassy until the evening”, he said.

At the protest they demanded for the immediate release of not only Rev.Dr. Hkalam Samson, but also all the political prisoners who have been wrongfully arrested by the Military Council after the coup.

The protest event was jointly organized by KBC-USA and some religious groups in Washington D.C, United States of America. Some Myanmar people who support the National Unity Government (NUG), also joined the protest with a total of more than 100 people. Rev.Dr. Hkalam Samson was arrested and taken away at Mandalay Airport by the Junta troops on December 5th ,while he was waiting in transit for a flight to Bangkok on business.

It has been more than 10 days since the Reverend was arrested, but it is not known where he is being held, and he has been denied any contact with his family.

On December 6th, the day after the arrest, when four representatives of the Kachin Baptist Convention (KBC) and some officials of the Military Council met, they heard the news that the regime plans to launch a legal proceedings against Rev.Dr. Hkalam Samson, according to KBC.