by Karen Faulkner, Worthy News Correspondent
(Worthy News) - An ethnic Pwo Karen Christian pastor was murdered at his home inside his church compound in Myanmar on the night of September 2, International Christian Concern (ICC) reports.
Leader of the Pwo Karen Baptist Church – Pathein, Rev. Mahn Kyaw Soe Latt, 50, was beaten with a hammer and stabbed in the stomach at around 7:30 pm, ICC reports. The pastor’s deaf mother was in the house during the murder - as was a worker who disappeared after the killing.
The murderer made his escape with Pastor Latt’s motorbike, money, and cell phone, ICC reports. In a Facebook post, the Pwo Karen Baptist Church – Pathein said the pastor’s motorbike had been recovered after the killer abandoned it, but no arrest has been made as of October 14.
While a police investigation into the murder is underway, Myanmar citizens, and minorities like Christians, continue to be attacked by the Buddhist nationalist military junta, which seized control of the country in a coup on February 1, 2021
The Pwo Karen Baptist Church has asked anyone with information about the murder of their pastor to come forward. “[Church members] suspect that the escaped worker who was there during the incident might have been involved,” ICC said in its report. “Please pray for comfort for the family and the church,” ICC requested.