YANGON (UCAN): Catholics, including religious and clergy joined anti-coup protests in Myanmar following the February 1 coup d’état by the Tatmadaw (military). Hundreds marched on the streets of Yangon on February 14, reciting prayers and the rosary.
Young people held up placards reading “Free Aung San Suu Kyi” and “We support CDM,” the latter referring to the civil disobedience movement.
Nuns from various congregations showed their solidarity by marching on the streets, saying prayers at convents and offering snacks to protesters in Yangon and elsewhere.
In the Christian stronghold of Kachin state, nuns stood at the entrance of a church compound holding placards saying: “No to dictatorship” and “Listen to the voices of people” while protesters swarmed the streets of Myitkyina, the state’s capital city, on February 14.
On the night of February 14, security forces opened fire on protesters at a power plant in Myitkyina to try to disperse them, according to video footage shared on Facebook. The deployment of the soldiers sparked the confrontation.
Nationwide anti-coup protests have intensified over nine consecutive days in Yangon, Mandalay, villages and the ethnic regions of Kachin and Chin states.
On the night of February 14, security forces opened fire on protesters at a power plant in Myitkyina to try to disperse them, according to video footage shared on Facebook. The deployment of the soldiers sparked the confrontation.
Armoured vehicles were also seen in Yangon; Myitkyina; and Sittwe, in Rakhine state, according to media reports.
Some 15 embassies, including those of the European Union and the United Kingdom, issued a statement late on February 15 calling on security forces to “refrain from violence against demonstrators and civilians who are protesting the overthrow of their legitimate government.”
Internet access was also shut down from 1.00am to 9.00am on February 15.
“To the people of Myanmar, we express our support for your rights to justice, to freedom, to democratic participation, to personal safety and security, and to peaceful, sustainable and inclusive development”
Nada Al-Nashif
The United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) called on Myanmar’s military to restore civilian rule and release civilian leader, Aung San Suu Kyi.
In a resolution on February 12, the 47-member council called for the immediate and unconditional release of all persons arbitrarily detained and the restoration of the elected government.
“To the people of Myanmar, we express our support for your rights to justice, to freedom, to democratic participation, to personal safety and security, and to peaceful, sustainable and inclusive development,” Nada Al-Nashif, deputy high commissioner for human rights, told the council.
China and Russia disassociated themselves from the consensus claiming the coup was Myanmar’s internal affair.
The Holy See said it has been following with “great attention and deep concern” the developments in the country, which Pope Francis visited in November 2017.
“In this most delicate moment, the Holy See wishes to assure once again its spiritual closeness, prayer and solidarity with the people of Myanmar,” Archbishop Ivan Jurkovic, the Holy See’s permanent observer to the UNHRC, said on February 12.
“The Holy See also implores that those who hold responsibility in the country will place themselves and their actions, with sincere willingness at the service of the common good of fundamental human and civil rights, of promoting social justice and national stability, for a harmonious, democratic and peaceful coexistence,” Archbishop Jurkovic said.
Pope Francis expressed solidarity with the people of Myanmar on February (Sunday Examiner, February 14).
