ACN calls on the world to remember Myanmar
Pope Francis has said that the real treasure of Myanmar is its people. As the conflict between the military regime and its opposition worsens, Aid to the Church in Need supports the local Catholic Church’s repeated calls for peace and justice, not only for Christians, but for all of the country’s citizens.
On February 1, 2021, a military coup ended civilian rule in Myanmar, triggering a conflict that continues to this day.
On the third anniversary of the coup, Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) stresses the importance of continuing to pray for and work toward the establishment of peace and justice in Myanmar.
The conflict, which pits government forces against armed resistance groups and ethnic militias, has become significantly worse over the past year, with fighting affecting almost the entire country. The current situation brings suffering to all sectors of society and poses a particular danger to vulnerable minority communities, including Christians.
During his visit to the country in 2017, Pope Francis said, “Myanmar has been blessed with great natural beauty and resources, yet its greatest treasure is its people.” He added that the Burmese “have suffered greatly, and continue to suffer, from civil conflict and hostilities that have lasted all too long and created deep divisions.” Since February 2021, and especially in the last three months, this suffering has intensified.
“With so many high-profile conflicts in the world today, it is easy for Myanmar to be forgotten. It is crucial that we do not allow this to happen. We call on the international community to increase efforts for restoring peace and justice in the country. All actors in the conflict should try to put the love of peace and of neighbor above personal ambitions and gains,” says Regina Lynch, executive president of ACN International.
“In this context, it is inspiring to see how Church leaders, including priests, religious, and catechists, continue to stand by their people, bringing consolation and God’s grace to the remotest areas,” she adds.
Testimonies obtained by ACN say that the country is at risk of becoming a failed state and that the war has killed and displaced many people, including the disabled, the elderly, and women with children.
Aid to the Church in Need continues to advocate for peace and respect of life, irrespective of religion: “They are walking a way of the cross, always hoping in the resurrection of Jesus Christ. I was told of a song that children were overheard singing in a displaced camp: ‘Nowhere to go, no land to live, no bed to sleep, nowhere to run, nowhere to hide! There is no way to survive! We need peace like a song, we need justice like a river, we need freedom like a wind, and the grief of war must end!’ How could we not unite our voices to pray with these children’s pleas?” says Lynch.
“We urge all our benefactors to pray for Myanmar, its Church, and its people with special intensity on February 1,as we are sure that ‘if the Lord does not bless the house, the carpenter shall toil in vain’ (Ps. 127),” she concludes.
—Filipe d’Avillez & Maria Lozano
