Two Catholic priests in Myanmar caught by the Tatmadaw

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23/02/2022 Burma (International Christian Concern) – On February 21, two Catholic priests who were on their way to help internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Shan State were arrested by the Burmese army (Tatmadaw). The reason for their detention is not known.

According to UCA News, Father John Paul Lwel of the Catholic Church of Pekhon and Father John Bosco of the Catholic Church of Tuangyi were arrested on Monday by soldiers from the junta and the national army Pa-O, an ethnic armed group, in a checkpoint, local church sources said. Two drivers and a student were also arrested.

Clergy from the Diocese of Pekhon confirmed the news of their arrest and said they did not yet know why they had been taken. The Church leadership tries to negotiate their release.

The arrest of the clergy came shortly after fighting escalated between the Tatmadaw and the People’s Defense Forces (PDF) in Moe Bye Township, Pekhon Diocese, where junta forces attacked. deployed airstrikes, armored vehicles and heavy weapons. Dozens of houses were also burned in different cities. A pastor, who was also a nurse, was killed last week during the scuffle.

The clergy are regularly targeted by the junta. Nine priests from the dioceses of Bamaw, Mandalay and Hakha were arrested last year on suspicion of supporting the PDFs. In areas where Christians are in the majority, anti-junta resistance also appears more robust, leading to an escalation in attacks across the country.

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