“I appeal to you to be peaceful and strategic to avoid confrontation and loss of life. I continue to support and remain available for all non-violent and peaceful efforts and interventions. I am fully committed at all levels to reduce violence in the streets and for the protection of lives.”
In his March 24 letter to all citizens of Myanmar and especially the young people, Cardinal Charles Maung Bo, Archbishop of Yangon and President of the Asian Bishops (FABC), made this appeal, while fully acknowledging the pain and suffering his people are experiencing.
Forty days after the coup in Myanmar that sparked popular protests with dozens of dead and thousands of opponents arrested, the Cardinal discussed the situation in his country in an exclusive interview with Exaudi.
In this letter, the Cardinal recognizes Myanmar’s nationwide movement “is grounded in the values of democracy, non-violence, equity and solidarity, and seeking to bring justice for all.” The movement, he continues, “has gained the world’s admiration for its spontaneity, creativity, orderliness, massive organization skills and non-violent approach.”
The Asian prelate then illustrated the challenges that always accompany historic movements. Bo recognized how most are doing their best to survive in very difficult circumstances, including the challenge to peaceful gather when brutal violence is being used against the people.
“Heartbroken and frustrated by the violence that you face and by the rising death toll,” Cardinal Bo said, “you wonder if armed struggle may be the better response to the daily repression and brutality that you face.”
“I acknowledge your pain, anger and trauma. However,” he continued, “I caution you from going down the path of violent struggle and appeal to you to remain determined and disciplined in non-violence. Your impressive movement has gained world-wide attention, solidarity, admiration and support because of its peaceful nature so far.”
Lamenting how long and bloody Myanmar’s struggle has already been, the Cardinal stressed there are no easy solutions. “Hate cannot be dispelled by hate but only by love; darkness is never dispelled by darkness but only by light,” he said.
Lamenting violence only reaps more violence, Myanmar’s cardinal reminded that religions adhere to non-violence since it is “intrinsically evil.”
“I unconditionally condemn all acts of violence against unarmed civilians,” the President of the Asian Bishops went on to say, stating: “The path of violent struggle will initially excite a section of the population but in the long-term, it will alienate the majority, losing all support and goodwill not only at home but also with the international community.”
Myanmar is emerging from decades of military rule after Aung San Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy party won the 2015 elections and subsequently took office. The Muslim minority of the Rohingyas is considered by the UN to be one of the most persecuted. According to data from the Arakan Project, a humanitarian organization defending Rohingyas rights, since 2010, some 100,000 members of the minority have fled Burma (Myanmar) by sea. Violence between radical Buddhists and Rohingyas has left, since 2012, more than 200 dead and 140,000 displaced.
According to AP reports, after almost half a century of military rule, the Feb. 1 coup reversed years of slow progress toward democracy. That same day a newly elected Parliament was supposed to take office, which would have been led by Aung San Suu Kyi’s party. Instead she, President Win Myint and other senior officials, were detained. Since then, there has been a movement of increasingly violent protests in cities across Myanmar.
The Holy Father also made strong appeals for the nation in turmoil at his recent General Audiences and Angeluses.
Here is the full text of Cardinal Bo’s letter provided to Exaudi’s Deborah Lubov:
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24th March 2021
I would like to extend my greetings and blessings to all the young people and all citizens across the country.
I have great admiration and appreciation for your historical contribution to and sacrifice for the greater good of our country and our people.
Yours is a nation-wide movement, grounded in the values of democracy, non-violence, equity and solidarity, and seeks to bring justice for all. Your movement has gained the world’s admiration for its spontaneity, creativity, orderliness, massive organization skills and non-violent approach.
As with all historical movements, you are facing a great many challenges: –
On one hand you are doing your best to survive in very difficult circumstances: Brutal violence against the people that makes it increasingly impossible for peaceful gatherings; fear, depression and anxiety about the course of future action; finding safe places and living in existential anxieties.
Heartbroken and frustrated by the violence that you face and by the rising death toll, you wonder if armed struggle may be the better response to the daily repression and brutality that you face.
I acknowledge your pain, anger and trauma. However, I caution you from going down the path of violent struggle and appeal to you to remain determined and disciplined in non-violence. Your impressive movement has gained world-wide attention, solidarity, admiration and support because of its peaceful nature so far.
Myanmar’s struggle is already too long and bloody. There are no easy solutions. Hate cannot be dispelled by hate but only by love; darkness is never dispelled by darkness but only by light.
All faith traditions adhere to non-violence because all violence is intrinsically evil. Violence brings greater violence. I unconditionally condemn all acts of violence against unarmed civilians. The path of violent struggle will initially excite a section of the population but in the long-term, it will alienate the majority, losing all support and goodwill not only at home but also with the international community.
Again I appeal to you to be peaceful and strategic to avoid confrontation and loss of life. I continue to support and remain available for all non-violent and peaceful efforts and interventions. I am fully committed at all levels to reduce violence in the streets and for the protection of lives.
May God bless each and everyone of you.
Charles Cardinal Bo
Archbishop of Yangon
[Provided by Cardinal Bo ]
