Myanmar’s military violate Loikaw cathedral to strike at those fleeing the war

Bishop Celso Ba Shwe offers his dramatic testimony. With some priests, he was forced to flee the pastoral center, which provided shelter to displaced people during the fighting. But the “Burmese military attempted for three times to take over the compound of Christ the King's Cathedral.” On the night of the feast of Christ the King, “the military intentionally shot [at] the pastoral center” with several “artillery shells” landing on the target. “Please continue to remember us in your prayers,” the prelate asks.

Loikaw (AsiaNews) – Myanmar’s military attacked and occupied Loikaw’s Cathedral of Christ the King, which had welcomed displaced people fleeing the war. As a result, the bishop himself and some priests were forced to leave the pastoral center.

The tragic news comes from Kayah State, a mountainous area in eastern Myanmar on the border with Thailand, home to the Karen people, scene of fighting since rebel forces launched the 2710 offensive a few weeks ago against  junta troops.

Appointed just a few months ago, Bishop Celso Ba Shwe in person describes the terrible ordeal his Church is going through, urging the faithful to show their closeness through prayer.

“Due to the intensifying armed conflicts in November, more than 80% of the urban and rural people in Kayah State have been internally displaced,” he writes. “On November 12, about 800 town inhabitants began to flow into Christ the King’s compound. Thus, the number of both old and new displaced persons exceeded 1,300.

“The Burmese junta has used heavy weapons, fighter jets, armored vehicles, ballistic missile systems and mobile defense systems. As a result, people both urban and rural are fleeing their residences and go into different directions.

“Some have fled to the northern part of the State, some to Ye Phyu, Hsi-hseng and other places in Shan State. Among refugees, there were old and sick people, the paralyzed, women, people who remained at the pastoral center of Loikaw.

“The Burmese military attempted for three times to take over the compound of Christ the King's Cathedral in Loikaw diocese and yet the bishop and the resident priests made effort to convince the military generals of the importance of the religious sites and requested them to spare the place.

“However, on the night of November 26, the military intentionally shot [at] the pastoral center with 120 mm artillery pieces for many times and the roof of the chapel of the pastoral center was hit and the ceiling was destroyed by the artillery shells.

“So, for the sake of safety, the bishop and the priest decided to leave the pastoral center today. Just before their departure, 50 soldiers came and occupied [it] to make of it as a shield.”

The prelate ends his dramatic appeal saying, “Please continue to remember us in your prayers.”

• myanmar
• kayah state
• Loikaw
• thailand
• border
• military
• rebel
• junta
• christ the church cathedral
• displaced people
• refugees
• shelling