The incident reportedly followed the destruction of another pastor’s house in a village in Ann Township.
A Christian pastor was reportedly beaten unconscious in Rakhine State’s Ann Township on Sunday and is now in hospital, according to his colleague.
Pastor U Tin Swe works with the Thadin Kaung Church in Hin Ywet village—the same community in which he was allegedly attacked—more than 20 miles from Ann town. He is a field leader within the Thukha Myanmar Mission, a church group which describes itself as providing outreach to orphans, and those suffering from drug addiction, poverty, and illness.
Mar Mar Win, who works with Pastor U Tin Swe, told Khonumthung news that the attack occurred while he was on his way to meet members of the church.
“Buddhist villagers from Hin Ywet and Padaykyaw called him to come see them demolish [another]pastor’s house, but U Tin Swe refused to go with them,” she explained. “The villagers shouted at him that no Christian was allowed to come to the village and asked him why he had come there. After that, they beat pastor U Tin Swe.”
U Tin Swe reportedly received four stitches in his head, as well as injuries to his ear and under his eye. After initially seeking help in Ann, he traveled to Rangoon for further treatment.
Mar Mar Win said that the other pastor’s house was destroyed, and that Christians from the village fled the area fearing further violence. To her knowledge, no legal action has yet been taken.
The incident is the second reported in recent months—in early July, locals say villagers attacked and beat two women pastors in nearby Padaykyaw village.
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