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There is always the path of dialogue, peace and reconciliation, says Cardinal Charles Maung Bo of Yangon in a statement marking one year of the February 1, 2021 coup d'état
By La Croix International staff | Myanmar
The cardinal-archbishop of Yangon is urging for dialogue and reconciliation as Myanmar marks the one-year anniversary of the army's seizure of power.
"There is a stalemate. Conflict broke our communities. Rebuilding trust and rebuilding our institutions will be a long arduous task. The conflict is becoming more brutal, the atrocities are more shocking each day," said Cardinal Charles Maung Bo of Yangon in a message marking the anniversary of the February 1, 2021 coup d'état, when the Myanmar army seized power by deposing the government of the National League for Democracy led by Aung San Suu Kyi.
"Our people are not resigned. They seek peace with dignity. A country that will be reborn through reconciliation. Violence is not the only way to confront evil, nor is it an effective way. It tends to breed more violence. There is always the path of dialogue, peace and reconciliation", said Cardinal Bo, who is also president of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Myanmar.
Suu Kyi, a Nobel laureate, was about to begin a second five-year term in office last year after winning a landslide electoral victory when the military said it acted because of widespread voter fraud — an allegation independent election observers said there was no serious evidence of.
The coup triggered a large wave of protests and strikes, which were harshly suppressed by the military and which escalated into a civil war in the months that followed as "People's Defense Forces" formed across the country to oppose the military junta.
About 1,500 civilians have already been killed in crackdowns and more than 11,787 unlawfully held, according to United Nations human rights office figures on Tuesday.
The country's Catholics have been participating in pro-democracy demonstrations and have been helping the families of deceased protesters.
Responding to the thousands of people unjustly imprisoned, victims of violence, Cardinal Bo said: "They should be released immediately. So many of these people were running the government a year ago. They are our people and they need to be released and involved in the reconciliation process."
Cardinal Bo also said that "churches have suffered greatly because many of the areas of ethnic minorities where much of the fighting is now has high numbers of Christian people."
"Churches have been hit by artillery and airstrikes. All kinds of people have suffered in this unfortunate tear-filled saga. Everybody is affected. Millions of people are hungry," Cardinal Bo said.
The cardinal also urged the international community to show greater attention to solving the issues of Myanmar. "Of course, the world is distracted by the terrible events in Afghanistan, Ukraine and Ethiopia, but Myanmar is also torn apart and the economy is collapsing," he said.
One year after the coup, the United States, Britain and Canada have imposed new sanctions on the military. US President Joe Biden in a statement has called for the military to free Suu Kyi and other detainees and engage in dialogue to return Myanmar on a path to democracy.
The military ruled Myanmar after a 1962 coup. It begun to withdraw from politics in 2010, freeing Suu Kyi after years of house arrest.
Suu Kyi formed a government after a 2015 election, but was required to share power with the army until it again took over complete control last year.
Soon after the coup, Cardinal Bo pleaded with the army "not to inflict harm on the sons and daughters of this nation."
"I sought release of all political prisoners. I feared for the youth. Those messages remain till today," he said.
"As a Salesian, I have special concern for youth. I appealed to the youth directly many times, saying that I understand their pain, though I may not agree with their solutions. I am deeply concerned that this nation may lose its youth either to total frustration or hatred or desire for revenge," he said.
That is why "it is urgent to stop the fighting, cease the violence, allow humanitarian assistance to the displaced people".
Pope Francis, has also been deeply concerned about the continued violence in Myanmar, having made a first historic visit in November 2017 after opening formal diplomatic ties between the Vatican and Myanmar in May 2017.
Last year he celebrated a special Mass with the Myanmar community resident in Rome.
In his homily at that special Mass on the Feast of the Assumption, Pope Francis urged Catholics to keep the faith and not to despair and lose hope. "Your beloved country of Myanmar is experiencing violence, conflict and repression," the pope said at St. Peter's Basilica.
The pope called for unity, describing division in families and communities as a disease.
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