Provisional President Bombs Cardinal Charles Bo's Hometown, Asks Religious Leaders for Peace, While Over 300 Religious Buildings Attacked

Ayeyarwaddy Times August 7 Ten days after bombing the village of Mon Hla in Kin U Township, Sagaing Region, the hometown of Cardinal Charles Bo, chairman of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Myanmar, Provisional President Min Aung Hlaing invited the group led by Cardinal Charles Bo to Naypyidaw and stated that religious freedom is guaranteed. At the meeting held in Naypyidaw on August 5, before traveling to Thailand, Provisional President Min Aung Hlaing stated that freedom of worship according to one's beliefs is allowed in Myanmar and invited religious leaders to bring about peace through religion. Despite the Provisional President's remarks, on July 25, the Provisional Government's army bombed Mon Hla village, Cardinal Charles Bo's hometown, without reason, killing a 60-year-old woman and injuring many residents. "In our country, freedom of worship according to one's beliefs is guaranteed. I myself have visited religious schools according to my faith and carried out donations and studies," Provisional President Min Aung Hlaing was quoted as saying in their propaganda newspapers. Furthermore, the coup leader Provisional President continued to say that he supports bringing about peace and prosperity through religion without discrimination regarding religious beliefs, and is also calling for peace. For this reason, he stated that religious leaders should contribute through religion to refine the thoughts and spirits of the people and bring about peace and prosperity. Despite the Provisional President's statements, many monks and religious leaders who oppose the coup have been arrested, imprisoned, killed, and religious discrimination and oppression are systematically committed. Religious buildings are also frequently targeted when militarily defeated. According to a March report by the human rights watchdog Myanmar Witness, there have been as many as 312 targeted aerial attacks on religious buildings across the country since the military coup. These bombings occurred in 13 regions and states, excluding Naypyidaw and Yangon, with Sagaing Region and Shan State having the highest number of 57 each, followed by Mandalay Region with 53. The Provisional Government's propaganda newspaper also reported that Cardinal Charles Bo expressed his gratitude for the permission to build a Catholic church on 2 acres of land in Dakkhinathiri Township, Naypyidaw, during the meeting. Photo – MOI