MANDALAY (UCAN): “As a citizen of Myanmar, I feel disappointment and sorrow over the situation of our country, which has become a poorer nation due to chronic wars,” Archbishop Marco Tin Win of Mandalay, lamented in his New Year message on Janaury 1, the World Day of Peace.
“In the year 2021, our hope is that people from all walks of life can live peacefully by getting peace in the country,” Archbishop Tin said.
The archbishop also raised concerns about getting access to Covid-19 vaccines for all people in the country, noting that rich countries have organised vaccination programs while poorer ones, including Myanmar, are struggling to purchase enough vaccines for everyone.
The 60-year-old archbishop quoted New Year message of Charles Cardinal Bo of Yangon, saying that “even superpowers which spend billions on war machines realised their folly when they understood they have more soldiers than doctors, more guns than ventilators.”
The archbishop added: “It would be better if we can spend most of our money for purchasing ventilators, laboratory equipment and vaccines.”
As countries worldwide cope with the impact of Covid-19, he urged all Christians to draw strength from Jesus Christ, as Emmanuel is with us. “I urge you to move forward the journey of 2021 without fear,” he added.
On 29 December 2020, the government of Myanmar extended Covid-19 restrictions in the country, including a ban on international flights until the end of January to stem the spread of infections.
Stay-at-home orders imposed by the Ministry of Health and Sports remain place in several townships across the country including Yangon and Mandalay.
Except for Mandalay and the nearby town of Pyin-Oo-Lwin, Catholic churches held public Masses at Christmas and New Year with no more than 30 participants, following social distancing protocols, wearing facemasks and screening temperatures.
Myanmar reported 729 new coronavirus cases on January 4, bringing the total to 126,345 with 2,728 deaths and 109,548 recoveries. It has the third-highest number of cases in ASEAN behind Indonesia and the Philippines.
