02/02/2021 Myanmar (International Christian Concern) –International Christian Concern (ICC) has learned that following the coup yesterday, Myanmar’s military (Tatmadaw) has declared a state of emergency for a year until a new election. In the meantime, it proceeded to appoint 11 ministers and remove 24 Deputy Ministers from the civilian government.
Myanmar’s State Counselor, Aung Sang Suu Kyi, along with President Win Myint and other National League for Democracy (NLD) leaders, were detained in a military raid yesterday. While the Tatmadaw released a majority of the detained regional and state Chief Ministers today, Suu Kyi and President Win Myint continue under house arrest.
Monday’s coup, which reversed a decade of democratic transition following 50 years of military rule, has drawn criticism from all over the world. Several nations, including the United Kingdom and the United States, call on the Tatmadaw to release the detained leaders and respect the will of the people of Burma as expressed in democratic elections on November 8.
The Biden administration declared the actions of the Tatmadaw a “coup” today and said Washington will move to end what little direct financial help it offers to Myanmar’s government.
While NLD launched online campaigns, banged pots and pans in unison, and vowed civil disobedience today to protest against the military power grab, overseas Burmese are holding demonstrations around the world to condemn the coup and stand in solidarity with their people. In response to the coup, the auxiliary bishop of Yangon called for prayers, caution, and stocking up on provisions for the people.
According to UCA News, Auxiliary Bishop John Saw Yaw Han of Yangon, told a Catholic media, "We must live in a spirit of vigilance and prayer." He called on the Church to “provide food reserves to avoid shortages” and “also take care of stocks of medicines to ensure the health of the people.”
Gina Goh, ICC’s Regional Manager for Southeast Asia, said, “The return of a Buddhist-backed military junta is glooming for Myanmar’s religious minorities, Muslims and Christians, as the Tatmadaw has a track record of religious persecution against these groups. Abduction, torture, rape, and murder, are all too familiar to the Christian minority in the country. If the international community does not interfere, it is only a matter of time before the military repression intensifies and inflicts suffering on the people of Myanmar.”
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