The Current Situation of Kayah State
(Diocese of Loikaw – November 27, 2023)
The diocese of Loikaw is in Kayah State (known as Karenni State), which is the smallest in Myanmar. The total population is around 300,000. Kayah State covers an area of 4,500 square miles, and it is mostly hilly and mountainous.
Due to intensifying armed conflicts in November, more than 80% of the urban and rural people in Kayah State, have been internally displaced. On November 11, about 800 town-inhabitants began to flow into Christ the King’s Compound. Thus, the number of both old and new displaced persons exceeded 1,300.
The Burmese junta has used heavy weapons, fighter jets, armored vehicles, ballistic missile systems and mobile defense systems. As a result, People both urban and rural are fleeing their residences and go into different directions. Some have fled to the northern part of the State, some to Ye Phyu, Hsi-hseng and other places in Shan State. Among refugees, there were old and sick people, the paralyzed, women, some young people who remained at the Pastoral Center of Loikaw until yesterday and there were altogether 82 people (inclusive of 10 priests, 16 Religious and some employees).
The Burmese military attempted for 3 times to take over the compound of Christ the King’s Cathedral in Loikaw diocese and yet the Bishop and the resident priests made effort to convince the military Generals of the importance of the religious sites and requested them to spare the place. However, on the night of November 26, the military intentionally shot the Pastoral Center with 120mm artillery pieces for many times and the roof of the chapel of the Pastoral Center was hit and the ceiling was destroyed by the artillery shells. So, for the sake of safety the Bishop and the priests decided to leave the Pastoral Center today. Just before their departure, 50 soldiers came and occupied to make use of it as a shield.
Please continue to remember us in your prayer,
H. E. Msgr. Celso Ba Shwe
2023-11-27 22:19:08
