Loikaw: army still holding the cathedral, while bishop takes refuge in the forest
Bishop Celso Ba Shwe left the city after witnessing the total devastation of the Cathedral of Christ the King. The desecration of places of worship by soldiers has also alarmed Buddhists, sources told AsiaNews. Meanwhile, China is trying to broker peace talks between the junta and resistance militias, with little success so far.
Yangon (AsiaNews) – Two weeks after talking about the attack by Myanmar’s military against the Cathedral of Christ the King in Loikaw, capital of Kayah State, Bishop Celso Ba Shwe is sheltering in a safe place in the forest, sources told AsiaNews.
The images that circulated following the devastation of the church also shocked local Buddhists: "The soldiers proved to be real desecrators,” sources said.
The bishop, who returned to the church to retrieve some documents, found total devastation.
"Signs of death and desecration were found inside the church," the sources explained, with the mangled bodies of raped women found near the cathedral.
“Several times Myanmar’s de facto authorities had asked the bishop of Loikaw to use the cathedral compound as an operational military base." The army eventually took the place of worship by force.
"The city is now split in two," the sources noted. Troops still control the church and its surroundings, "a vast area," while anti-coup resistance militias, led by the Karenni Nationalities Defence Force, are fighting to gain total control of Loikaw.
“Percentages mentioned about the reconquest of territory cannot be considered reliable because they are unverifiable. What is certain now is that there is really fighting everywhere and controls have become even stricter” with soldiers closely checking civilians on every street.
"The Burmese stand out for their silence, but the silence around some events is increasing," sources told AsiaNews.
"People are experiencing war even more directly. Those who in recent years cared for the weakest and most vulnerable, like as children, displaced people, and minors without families, those who have been left alone, are collapsing under the weight of their pain and that of the people they cared for. This increases silence even more, because evil and violence frighten, become unmentionable and emotionally attack people from within.”
Thousands of displaced people continue to move from one region to another in an attempt to avoid bombings. In the Diocese of Loikaw, about 26 of the 41 parishes have been completely abandoned.
Meanwhile, China, which had so far avoided direct involvement in the conflict, recently stated that it mediated in talks between the military and the three ethnic militias. The latter launched Operation 1027 on 27 October (exactly one month before the attack on Loikaw Cathedral) in northern Myanmar, with the aim of taking the country.
Fighting has been raging in northern Shan State for weeks, with at least 30,000 registered internally displaced persons.
The Arakan Army, the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army, and the Ta'ang National Liberation Army, which have formed the Brotherhood Alliance, have attacked several outposts along the Myanmar-China border, blocking cross-border trade, thus raising concerns in Beijing.
After news about peace talks became public, the three militias yesterday reiterated their commitment to defeat the military regime. Nevertheless, a second round of talks should take place by the end of the month.
“Significant progress made, but achieving our complete goals needs more time and ongoing efforts," the Three Brotherhood Alliance said in a post on X social media, without mentioning the talks. "Our dedication remains strong with the entire Myanmar population.”
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15/11/2023 16:38
13/03/2023 18:13
