18 May 2026 – Concern and criticism are growing after a Christian church was destroyed in Kyauktaw township, an area under the control of the Arakan Army (ULA/AA), according to local sources.
The Christ Hope Seventh-Day Adventist (SDA) Church in Kyein Chaung village, Yo Chaung area, was reportedly destroyed on 15 May.
The initial resource from The Mro Times on 17 May indicated that tensions surrounding the church had been building for months due to land disputes and opposition from some villagers to the presence of a Christian church in the village.
Sources said an SDA church member bought the land with personal funds and donated it to the church. A pastor’s residence was later built on the land, and worship activities had reportedly been held there for more than a year.
However, some villagers reportedly opposed the church, claiming there had never previously been a Christian church in the village. The land later became the subject of a dispute after some residents claimed it was communal village land.
The dispute was reportedly reviewed by relevant authorities, who confirmed the ownership rights of the donor. Authorities later negotiated between both sides, and the church community reportedly agreed to allocate part of the land for village use.
Further tensions emerged when church members attempted to replace the old roof of the pastor’s residence with metal sheets. Some villagers reportedly accused the church community of constructing a church building and filed complaints with local authorities. After inspections, authorities reportedly confirmed that the structure was a pastor’s residence and not a church building.
Despite this, tensions escalated on 15 May. Local sources said that the village administrator and several villagers entered the church compound around 5:00 pm, threatened the pastor, destroyed the church signboard, and forced the pastor to leave the area.
Local sources alleged that several villagers were involved in the destruction, including village administrator Mr. Hla Maung.
The motives behind the incident and full details surrounding the destruction remain unclear at the time of reporting.
The incident has raised concerns among local residents over religious freedom, religious harmony, and community relations in the area.
Sources close to the church community said church leaders plan to file complaints with relevant authorities and pursue legal action over the destruction of the religious property.
The incident has also drawn strong criticism on social media, where many users condemned the destruction of the church and warned that such actions could increase tensions and instability.
Commentators stressed that disputes should be resolved through legal channels and that violence, threats, and attacks against religious buildings cannot be justified under any circumstances. – Reporting by Ben
A video clip posted online: https://www.facebook.com/reel/1541491194255309
