Zo Tum Hmung Remarks at the IRF Summit Feb.2.2026
THE IRF SUMMIT 2026- Washington Hilton
Washington, DC- Feb. 1-3, 2026
Presentation on February 2, 2026
Panel Discussion
- Beyond the List: Sanctions, Strategy, and Solutions: Strengthening the Global Accountability Toolkit for Religious Freedom
Panelist
- Zo Tum Hmung, President and CEO, Burma Research Institute
- 10:45 AM – 11:20 AM, February 2, 2026
- Georgetown Room, . Concourse Level, Washington Hilton, 1919 Connecticut Ave, NW, Washington, DC
On January 29, 2026, we released this report on Capitol Hill (Dirksen 226)
Burma: Severe Violations of Religious Freedom Against Christians
The Burma Research Institute (BRI), is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization based in Ellicott City, Maryland, in the United States
About The Report
- The Burma Research Institute (BRI) released a new report, “Burma: Severe Violations of Religious Freedom Against Christians,” on January 29 documenting the Burmese military’s systematic, ongoing, and egregious attacks on Christian communities since the February 2021 coup through December 2025.
Attacks on Christians
The report focuses on patterns of persecution of Christians across Chin, Kachin, Karenni, and Karen states, and Sagaing Region, including airstrikes and arson attacks against churches, intimidation and detention of clergy, and killings of Christian leaders.
FINDINGS
51 million people Buddhists (87.9 percent)
Geography:
- Largest mainland Southeast Asian country
- 676,577 km² (slightly smaller than Texas)
- Borders: India, China, Thailand, Bangladesh, Laos
Population: 51 million Religion:
- Buddhist: 87.9%
- Christian: 6.2%
- Muslim: 4.3%
- Animist: 0.8%
- Hindu: 0.5%
Christians (6.2 percent)
Christians are concentrated in Chin, Kachin, Karenni, and Karen States, with Chin State having the largest proportion of Christians at 85 per cent.
Key figures:
- 3.63 million people displaced within the country
- 1.59 million fled outside Burma
- Over 7,500 civilian deaths (including 976+ children)
- 30,000+ arrests by the military junta
FINDINGS: Displacement Numbers
Chin State: more than 1 in 5 people
Chin State:
- Over 20% displaced
- Chin State’s population is approximately 478,000
- Number displaced: approximately 95,600+ people
Karenni State: nearly 1 in 2 people
Karenni (Kayah) State:
- Over 48% displaced
- Karenni State’s population is approximately 286,000
- Number displaced: approximately 137,300+ people
KEY FINDINGS: Christians
- 343 Christian churches and buildings were damaged or destroyed by the Burmese military since the coup (BRI estimate synthesizing multiple credible datasets).
- 149 Christians killed and 218 imprisoned (Open Doors totals for 2022–2025, as presented in the report).
- The report documents repeated attacks on religious sites during Christian holy days, including Christmas, Palm Sunday and Easter. It also highlights a sustained assault on the Christian town of Thantlang, where 21 of 22 churches have been destroyed and the entire population is displaced.
Since 1999, Burma has been designated a Country of Particular Concern under the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 due to severe religious freedom violations.
However, no specific actions have been taken to address these violations.
BURNED OR DESTROYED CHURCHES AND ITS RELATED BUILDINGS
Chan Thar village in Sagaing Region —Burning of Assumption Church
- January 15, 2023
- Historical Bayingyi village of Chan Thar, Sagaing Region
- The 129-year-old Assumption Church and surrounding religious buildings burned by Tatmadaw troops
Karenni (Kayah) State
On June 15, 2022, the Burmese military destroyed St. Matthews Catholic Church, Karenni (Kayah) State. (Photos: BRI/CAM source, anonymous for security reasons)
Kachin State
In Kachin State, the assault on the Catholic community in the Banmaw Diocese has included both bombardment and arson. For example, BRI source on the ground report that junta forces set fire to St. Patrick’s Cathedral in Banmaw on March 16, 2025, framing it as part of a broader campaign targeting Christians.
On March 16, 2025, St. Patrick’s Cathedral, Banmaw, Kachin State (Photos: BRI/CAM source, anonymous for security reason)
Chin State: Burning of Johnson Memorial Baptist Church
- Since September 2021, the Tatmadaw has burned down thirteen churches in the town of Thantlang, Chin State. The entire population has fled and is currently displaced.
- On May 24, 2022, junta forces burned down Johnson Memorial Baptist Church, built in memory of the last American Baptist missionary to the Chin people
THANTLANG TOWN, CHIN STATE
On October 29, 2021, heavy shelling by the Burmese military destroyed 164 buildings including two hotels, two churches Church of the Rock and Presbyterian church—and over 90 houses. Attacks continued over the next year that levelled the town and destroyed 21 of 22 Thantlang churches.
Killing of Pastor Cung Biak Hum
- On September 18, 2021, the Tatmadaw shot and killed Pastor Cung Biak Hum, age 30, of Thantlang Centenary Baptist Church as he went to lead firefighting efforts
- Tatmadaw soldiers cut off Pastor Hum’s finger to steal his wedding ring
Source: CAM, “Two Years After the 2021 Military Coup: The Worsening Situation of Christians Across Burma,” 2023
The report documents repeated attacks on religious sites during Christian holy days, including Christmas, Palm Sunday and Easter
Cardinal Charles Maung Bo, Archbishop of Yangon, responded to the Christmas eve 2021 massacre in Karenni (Kayah) State: “The fact that the bodies of those killed, burned and mutilated were found on Christmas Day makes this appalling tragedy even more poignant and sickening
The U.S. Embassy in Burma said they were “appalled by the barbaric attack” and “will continue to press for accountability
PALM SUNDAY
On Palm Sunday, April 13, 2025, around 4 pm Myanmar Time, the Tatmadaw bombed Mindat Town in Chin State, destroying the Mindat Baptist Church
Mindat Baptist Church, Mindat, Chin State, before (upper) and after (lower) Tatmadaw airstrike. (Photo: Mindat Baptist Church Facebook. April 13, 2025)
EASTER SUNDAY
On April 8, 2025, Burmese military airstrikes destroyed Christ the King Catholic Church in Falam, Chin State, less than two weeks before Easter on April 20. All church members were displaced
“They destroyed the walls of the church, but not the faith,”
said Bishop Lucius Hre Kung, Hakha Diocese, Chin State, during a pastoral visit to the ruins of Christ the King in Falam, Chin State.
RECOMMENDATIONS
BRI had held six Congressional Briefing on Capitol Hills
THANK YOU!
The Trump Administration
- Make a formal determination that crimes against humanity and war crimes have been committed against Christians.
- Press for the release of detained Christian pastors and other clergy, and for political prisoners, including State Counselor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, President U Win Myint, and others.
- Redesignate Burma as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC) and enforce accountability, including by imposing visa restrictions and sanctions against the regime and others responsible for the atrocities.
- Condemn and reject the sham elections of the Burmese military junta and its outcome which will only prolong the military rule.
The U.S. Congress
- Hold a Congressional Hearing on Religious Freedom in Burma.
- Urge the Administration to designate Burma as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC) and enforce accountability of the junta and other perpetrators of atrocities against Christians.
- Urge the Trump Administration to unfreeze $1 billion of Burma funds being held at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York and make it available for humanitarian and non-lethal assistance to the pro-democracy groups, ethnic resistance organizations, and others.
- Continue calling on the Administration to condemn and reject the sham elections and their results and to appoint a special representative and policy coordinator for Burma.