Card Bo calls on the faithful to pray for Myanmar, tells military to defend the people rather than attack it (VIDEO)

Yangon (AsiaNews) – On the occasion of the Global Day of Prayer for Myanmar, launched by Christian Solidarity Worldwide for 10 March, Card Charles Maung Bo released a video the next day on Radio Veritas Asia.

The prelate, who is the archbishop of Yangon and president of the Federation of Asian Bishops' Conferences (FABC), is trying to mediate between the military junta that came to power in a coup, and the people and Aung San Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy, which won last November’s election.

Many of the faithful, however, have criticised him for being “ too neutral” in his attitude, while the number of people killed in the country by the security forces increases.

In his message, in addition to thanking “from the bottom of my heart” those who pray for his country, he also made a brief analysis of the situation.

The coup d'état has taken Myanmar back to “the nightmare of military repression, brutality, violence and dictatorship,” he said, drowning its people in “another chapter of darkness, bloodshed, and repression” after seeing “a glimpse of the sun beginning to rise over our beautiful land.”

At one point, the cardinal addresses the military saying that soldiers should “step back from power”, serve the country rather than be its masters, “defend rather than attack the people”.

In concluding, Card Bo calls on the faithful to pray for Myanmar, for the release of Suu Kyi and her aides, and also for General Suu Kyi. Min Aung Hlaing, that he, like Saint Paul, may be struck by the truth.

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• burma
• military coup
• card charles bo
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• radio veritas asia