Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what representations they have made to the military regime in Myanmar regarding the release of imprisoned former president of the Kachin Baptist Convention, Reverend Samson.

The UK condemns the arbitrary detention of politicians, civil society members, religious leaders and journalists by the military regime, including the former President of the Kachin Baptist Convention, Reverend Dr Hkalam Samson. On 18 April, the UK Special Envoy on Freedom of Religion or Belief (FoRB) called for Reverend Dr Hkalam Samson's immediate release and for the release of all those arbitrarily detained in Myanmar. On 21 December 2022 the UK coordinated a landmark UN Security Council Resolution which urged immediate action by the military regime to release all those in arbitrary detention. The UK reiterated this demand in the G7 Leader's statement on 20 May 2023.