Accustomed to discretion, all three know that a word against the army would endanger them and their Catholic people.

Archbishop Marco Tin Win, Bishop Noel Saw Naw Aye and Bishop Lucas Dau Ze Jeimphaung were speaking in Paris on their way to Lourdes and the Vatican.

Since the military coup of February 1, 2021, a large civil disobedience movement has been pushing for a return to democracy.

"The resistance to the coup has been commensurate with the hopes of the people, who voted overwhelmingly in November 2020 for the party that they believed would bring them freedom," emphasised Archbishop Marco Tin Win, 62, of Mandalay.

The 2020 parliamentary elections were won by the National League for Democracy (NLD), led by Aung San Suu Kyi.

The win put the NLD in a position to challenge the military junta's many privileges guaranteed in the 2008 Constitution.

However, the army staged a coup to preserve its power and took control of the country. Since then, the military has used force to control the population, including firing on protesting civilians.

In July, the junta executed four political prisoners, sending a clear message to its opponents.

"Although everyone is now a victim of the military, the younger generation is particularly targeted," said Noel Saw Naw Aye, 53. He is an auxiliary bishop and right-hand man of Cardinal Charles Bo in Yangon, the country's economic capital.

"The army is afraid of their talents, especially their mastery of new technologies and of their zeal," added Bishop Tin Win.

While in the past, the junta fought in particular against Christian ethnic minorities on the border territories, "fires and murders are now taking place everywhere, including in the big cities like Yangon," said Bishop Saw Naw Aye.

"Most victims of military cruelty are Buddhists. But Christians, who have been persecuted with general indifference in remote areas in the past, are now included," he added.

On April 8, a few days before Holy Week, the army invaded the Mandalay Cathedral to search the premises.

"They were looking for evidence that we were passing on information about the bombings and killings in Christian villages," explained Bishop Tin Win.

The Christian community, particularly religious, is very involved in helping the civilian population.

"The nuns, with the help of volunteers, are organising clandestine clinics because the hospitals are empty," explained the archbishop of Mandalay.

"Medical personnel have joined the civil protest movement en masse and are being persecuted and arrested by the army. The villagers who flee when the army arrives only have us. Church compounds are becoming refugee centres," he said.

"Children are the first victims of this civil war," pointed out Bishop Lucas Dau Ze Jeimphaung of Lashio - the largest city in the northern part of Shan State in the east.

"They have not been to school for three years. We have organised informal classes so that everyone has a chance to study!" said Bishop Jeimphaung.

The three bishops will continue to speak out; they are convinced that "in this darkness, God can bring light!"

Sources

La Croix International

UCA News

Approximately 40 soldiers entered Sacred Heart Cathedral before a Lenten prayer service on Friday, April 8. They refused to allow worshipers to leave. The soldiers also occupied other buildings on the compound.

Archbishop Marco Tin Win and employees of the Archdiocese of Mandalay were herded into the building and forced to sit in the pews along with the worshipers.

The worshipers eventually were allowed to leave, and about 30 officers remained in the cathedral overnight.

"I was so afraid," one elderly Sacred Heart Cathedral parishioner, who did not give her name for safety reasons, told CNA.

"The military was always crazy, but they never acted like this before. We ran home as soon as we were allowed out of the church."

"The soldiers kept demanding to know where the gold and money and weapons were hidden," explained her nephew, who also asked for anonymity. "I told them there was none. Any money collected is for the relief of poor families."

Archbishop Win Tin, Vicar General Monsignor Domenic Kyo Du, their respective staff and approximately 20 diocesan priests are still under house arrest.

Four other local archdiocesan priests said they privately have solicited prayers amongst their parishioners for the archbishop and his staff. However, they are barred from even mentioning the crisis publicly during Mass.

"I don't know what to do on a practical level," explained one priest. "I'm praying. We're all praying, but this is too far. We expected this considering the evils these people are committing in many provinces. They are slaughtering Christians everywhere in Myanmar."

Since the coup, more than 12,000 people have been arrested. An estimated 1,600 have been killed in the conflict, including 50 children. According to media reports, the military junta has deliberately targeted churches, other institutions and civilians.

Sources

Catholic News Agency

Catholic World Report

At least 875 people have been killed by Myanmar security forces since the February coup. Those killed have been primarily anti-coup protesters.

Opposition to the military has gone from peaceful demonstrations to an active self-defence movement with civil resistance groups emerging across the country.

Hundreds of young people from cities have gone to ethnic areas controlled by rebels to receive military training.

According to a state-run television report, a clash on June 22 between the military and the People's Defense Force (PDF) in Mandalay left at least eight dead. The presenter labeled the PDF "terrorists."

Cardinal Charles Bo of Yangon urged people to be steadfast in faith and hope. He asked them to pray for a new Myanmar of peace and justice.

"Guns will never solve this country's problems. Only a change of hearts can heal this long-suffering nation," the prelate said.

The cardinal has also called for prayers for the army, "for every soldier who holds a gun," so that their hearts melt. We pray they understand that "their violence is not against an enemy nation but against our own people."

On June 20, Pope Francis renewed his call for peace in the conflict-torn country. Myanmar is mired in political turmoil and fighting that has led to thousands of people being displaced.

The pope expressed support for the Myanmar bishops' appeal. He called the world's attention to the "heart-rending experience of thousands of people in that country who are displaced and have been dying of hunger."

"May the heart of Christ touch the hearts of everyone, bringing peace to Myanmar," the pope said.

Archbishop Marco Tin Win of Mandalay expressed the gratitude of the people of his country for Pope Francis for his closeness and support to them since the military coup.

"When the Pontiff speaks, the people of Myanmar feel very encouraged and moved. Not only Catholics but also people of other religions. It is a very important support for all of us, in this tragedy," said the Archbishop.

Sources

UCA News

Vatican News

Archbishop Marco Tin Win of Mandalay did not hesitate to set aside his daily duties and stand at a church entrance with some priests.

He held a placard with the words "People's desire — Free detained leaders, oppose military rule" in the Burmese script as thousands of anti-coup protesters rallied in the streets of Mandalay on Feb. 8.

It was a rare display of moral support from a Catholic leader in a country where Christians are a minority and Catholics account for around 700,000 of the 54 million people.

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