ACCOMPANY
It’s the time to accompany the victims of civil war outbreak in Myanmar
It was on February 1, 2021, the Myanmar military launched a coup to seize power. The Spring Revolution began though in the beginning, it began as a peaceful demonstration. But, military troops cruelly shot against protesters and many were killed. The young generations realized that they need “people’s defense force” to protect the people and to fight against military dictatorship. It has been more than three years since the political chaos. Looking at the lives of the people it is just a heart-breaking moment. Peace was not restored. At the current situation, the people of Myanmar are still fighting back against military force. Sadly, the war destroyed many families, ravaged many lives of people and damaged properties.
It was a nationwide civil war which incredibly affected the economy of the country and the life of its people. My hometown is in a war zone area. Going back for holidays, I saw the people who lost their homes as well as Churches and their pagodas were destroyed. Families were separated and some lost their family members as I lost my youngest brother, too. Hearing the stories and cries of the people, I have no words to encourage them but just to listen. The people left their homes and chose to live in the far forests, avoiding military shootings, from big artillery shelling and military’s jet planes. Nowhere is safe because military men shoot and send bombing anywhere as the people run from one place to other avoiding the crashes. Just in my hometown, there are more than 150 Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) Camps.
Within two months of my holidays, I only could reach out more than 10 camps to visit and share some goods with them. It is difficult to find transportation, and a much-felt shortage of food as it is of high cost, lack of medication and poor education service for children. In fact, some children quit school. It is such a pity for the youth and children because they have lost their education and their dreams. During those days, what came to my mind was to remember the missionary presence of our founders in the jungles. Reminisce how they were with the people. How I wish I have the courage and the ability like they had, to be with the impoverished people when they need most.
“What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun”. (Ecclesiastes 1:9). We heard that history repeats itself, such as wars, crisis, revolution etc.… The Charism of one hundred years ago will never be out of context, it is still relevant to our time. A time to live out love and protect life and to stand with the people who fight for freedom from oppression.
Myanmar is a country with flourishing Buddhism, there are people who never heard about Jesus, the Good News of which we are called, and which needs to be proclaimed. In the very context where the people are living in fear, hunger and disillusion. Yet, hopeful and hoping for the war to end, for military dictatorship to cease.
Thank you, Lord, for letting me meet the people of good will who has helped to the least of our brothers and sisters in need. On these circumstances (as the pictures will show), I was tasked to give words of encouragement and to explained sources of donated goods. Mingled with Buddhists children and families as well as another group of catholic children and their families. Crossed rivers on canoes and bamboo rafts to reach IDP camps. So inspiring to observe that wherever they are, in whatever situation they will build a simple chapel to worship God.
From a sister of the Community in Pingtung, Taiwan.