Rev. Hkalam Samson: Burmese Generals Imprisoned Him Six Years for Meeting with President Trump and Speaking Truth
In July 2019, Rev. Hkalam Samson, a prominent Kachin Christian leader from Burma (Myanmar), met with then-President Donald J. Trump at the White House during the Ministerial to Advance Religious Freedom. There, he thanked the United States for promoting religious liberty and courageously exposed the Burmese military’s brutal oppression of ethnic minorities, including Christians.
Shortly after his return home, Rev. Samson became the target of a military crackdown. On December 4, 2022, he was arrested by the junta, and in early 2023, sentenced to six years in prison under fabricated charges related to “unlawful association” and “inciting opposition to the regime” [1]. These charges are widely seen as politically motivated retaliation for his outspoken international advocacy.
Rev. Samson is the former president of the Kachin Baptist Convention (KBC), an organization representing over 400,000 Kachin Christians. He has long been known as a peaceful advocate for human rights, reconciliation, and religious liberty. His arrest and imprisonment are not only a direct attack on his freedom but also a broader assault on the principles of free speech and religious freedom that the United States has long championed around the world.
A Call to Action for U.S. Leadership
We call upon the Biden Administration and the United States Congress to take immediate diplomatic steps to secure the release of Rev. Samson and to pressure the Burmese military junta to end its ongoing campaign of repression. Specifically, we urge:
An official designation of Rev. Hkalam Samson as a prisoner of conscience.
Public condemnation of his imprisonment and calls for his immediate and unconditional release.
The use of U.S. diplomatic channels to coordinate with allies in applying pressure on the Burmese regime.
Consideration of Magnitsky-style sanctions on those directly responsible for his persecution.
The U.S. has both a moral and strategic interest in standing up for human rights and religious liberty abroad. Rev. Samson’s case is a litmus test for how firmly we uphold those values when they are under assault.
The Broader Crisis in Burma
Since the February 1, 2021 military coup in Burma, the junta has killed over 4,400 civilians and imprisoned more than 25,000 people, including religious leaders, journalists, and peaceful protestors [2]. Ethnic and religious minorities—especially the Kachin, Chin, Karen, and Rohingya—have borne the brunt of the regime’s cruelty, facing mass displacement, military airstrikes, and village burnings [3].
The regime uses fear and imprisonment to silence dissent. In this context, Rev. Samson’s imprisonment is part of a broader campaign to crush any voice for democracy, faith, or justice.
A Voice That Must Not Be Forgotten
When Rev. Hkalam Samson met President Trump in 2019, he did so not for personal gain but to amplify the cries of his people. His voice—bold, faithful, and unwavering—must not be silenced in a prison cell. We must act, and we must act now.
To support this effort, citizens are encouraged to contact their U.S. Senators, Representatives, and the White House to demand action.
References:
[1] Radio Free Asia. “Myanmar jails prominent pastor for inciting opposition to the junta.” January 2023. https://www.rfa.org/english/news/myanmar/pastor-01042023120542.html
[2] Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP). “Daily Briefing in Relation to the Military Coup.” Updated March 2025. https://aappb.org
[3] Human Rights Watch. “Burma: Junta’s War Crimes Mount as World Watches.” July 2023. https://www.hrw.org/news/2023/07/31/burma-juntas-war-crimes-mount-world-watches
