Human rights organisations denounce that dozens of Christian places of worship have been destroyed in the last year.

Ethnic Wa rebels closed the churches in September 2018, destroyed at least 10 church buildings and detained more than 200 Christians who were later released.

Area Buddhists had told Christian families to leave village.

Soldiers are holding arrested Christian leaders and students in Mong Maw town, a stronghold base of the Wa rebels.

Christian ethnic minorities have long suffered in Burma, where the government has recognized the special status of Buddhism.