The United States on Thursday condemned the Myanmar military authorities' arrest and detention of a Christian religious leader and called for his immediate release and for all charges against him to be dropped.
"We condemn the Burma military regime's arrest and detention of prominent ethnic Kachin Christian leader Rev. Dr. Hkalam Samson," State Department spokesman Ned Price told reporters.
"We are extremely concerned for his wellbeing and safety and encourage our partners and allies to join us in calling on the regime to drop all charges and immediately and unconditionally release Rev. Sampson."
(Reporting By Simon Lewis and Costas Pitas; Writing by Arshad Mohammed; Editing by Chris Reese)
