Myanmar: Bhamo Cathedral Burned by the Burmese Army

According to reports received by Agenzia Fides, the attack by the soldiers took place around 4 p.m. The cathedral was reportedly set on fire during operations carried out in the area by soldiers of the State Administration Council (SAC), the military junta currently in power in Myanmar.

The Diocese of Banmaw, established in 2006 and led by Bishop Raymond Sumlut Gam, borders China to the east and covers a largely mountainous area of 10,741 square kilometers. Before the current conflict, it was inhabited by a civilian population of over 407,000 people (including over 27,000 baptized Catholics), belonging to various ethnic groups.

A Long-Term Tragedy

The burning of the Banmaw Diocese cathedral is not an isolated incident. In the Mandalay region, the military bombed a village on March 17, killing at least 27 people, including children. The targeted town of Sangu was recaptured by the People's Defense Forces (an armed group resisting the regime) last July.

The Burmese civil conflict erupted in February 2021, following a coup d'état led by the Burmese army. More than four years after the fighting began, the country is increasingly fragmented. Recently, the population has been protesting against the control of ethnic militias, which have liberated certain areas from the army.

Last week, the Ta'ang National Liberation Army (TNLA) imposed compulsory conscription on the city administration of Mogok, in the Mandalay region, with the aim of creating a local militia to maintain security. This has led to resistance, as the population fears forced recruitment. This has not been long in coming. "After facing the protests, they abduct men from the street. The TNLA treats people like the regime did," a woman told The Irrawaddy newspaper. The Palaung ethnic group is accused of forcibly recruiting women and girls.

China's Influence

The head of the Burmese military junta, General Min Aung Hlaing, recently met in Naypyidaw with Deng Xijun, China's special envoy for Asian affairs. According to the Burmese regime's media outlet, the meeting reportedly discussed possible elections in Burma, as well as cooperation to crack down on online fraud and drug trafficking.

But it appears that China was primarily seeking to follow through on an agreement providing for the deployment of Chinese security personnel in areas where Beijing-funded infrastructure projects are located. For example, Rakhine State hosts several Chinese projects, including a deep-water port and gas and oil pipelines that are part of the Belt and Road Initiative.

This is a vital project because it would give China direct access to the Indian Ocean. Residents reported that Chinese security personnel had already arrived in the region, which Beijing reportedly wants to transform into a special economic zone. It is an initiative supported by Burmese generals.

In Rakhine State, government forces are suffering heavy losses and are seeking to sign a ceasefire. Under these circumstances, the presence of Chinese security forces in the region would be a boon to the Burmese armed forces, whose worries could be greatly alleviated.