Myanmar in the Balance

Myanmar is in a very difficult place at the moment. In February, the army of Myanmar overthrew the democratically elected representatives of the government, and established what is practical terms a military junta. Aid to the Church in Need spoke with the director of the Dr Michael & Angela Jacobi Foundation about the situation in Myanmar.

By ACN Staff

Catholics in Myanmar. (Credit: Aid to the Church in Need/Magdalena Wolnik)

Distressing scenes from Myanmar have been playing out across our screens in recent weeks. Many of us were moved by the scenes of Sister Ann Rose Nu Tawng kneeling in front riot police who were supressing protests on behalf of the Myanmar military. Two of the policemen also knelt on the ground and one touched his forehead to the ground. Sister Ann Rose begged the police not to shoot the protesters or use force against them. The police told Sister Ann Rose they respected her request, but they had to carry out their duty. Sister Ann Rose then told them if they had to kill someone to kill her instead of the protesters. The police then left the area.

Angela Jacobi. (Credit: Aid to the Church in Need)

This took place as part of wider unrest in Myanmar following a coup by the Myanmar army against the democratic elected representatives of the Myanmar government. Aid to the Church Need’s Volker Niggewöhner spoke in Germany with Angela Jacobi, director of the Dr Michael & Angela Jacobi Foundation, an organisation that carries out several projects in Myanmar. Angela said that there have already been actions taken against Muslims in Myanmar, and she would be frightened that Christians too may soon be targeted. Myanmar is majority Buddhist, with Buddhism being a central aspect of particular type of nationalism popular with many in the country. This means non-Buddhists, who are often from ethnic minorities, are vulnerable to discrimination and persecution.  

Despite the internet being cut off for most of the country, Angela is still in contact with two religious brothers on the ground, and they have said the situation is extremely serious. Reports from the north of the country, where there are many refugee camps, state that the Myanmar military has started to open fire on unarmed civilians. There are hundreds of thousands of people on the street protesting against the military coup throughout the country. The protests have wide support throughout Myanmar’s society. Angela has said even many police officers are unease with the military coup. We can perhaps see this in the fact that two police officers knelt in from of Sister Ann Rose, and despite some initial reluctance they did eventually leave the protesters alone. Ultimately the newly impose military government of Myanmar is backed up with troops and tanks of the Myanmar army. There is not much the police and protesters can do against them.

Angela also explains the coup in Myanmar has really very little to do with allegations of voting irregularities:

“In my opinion, Aung San Suu Kyi and her party have always been a thorn in the military’s side, and now they have celebrated a second landslide victory over the military. However, again it is a farce because three-quarters of the parliamentary seats are held by the military even though Aung San Suu Kyi won more than 80 per cent of the votes. The problem is that all of the raw materials – mines and specifically the three largest industrial conglomerates in the country – are in the hands of the military. Now that Aung San Suu Kyi has again won a clear victory in the election they feel as though they are losing control.”

The election was held in November and the coup took place over three months later in February. It is quite evident that the voting irregularities were just used as an excuse.

Cardinal Charles Bo, President of Catholic Bishops’ Conference in Myanmar, issued a statement on the 14th March in which he called for peace and end to violence. Part of the statement read:

Peace is possible; peace is the only way.  The Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin, request that the ‘whole Catholic community in Myanmar will spare no efforts in this direction.”

The next few weeks will be very important in Myanmar’s history. Myanmar could continue on the road to freedom and democracy, or it could fall back into the tyranny of military dictatorship. Let us join in prayer for peace in Myanmar and let us also pray that we may be as courageous in our faith as Sister Ann Rose.