CV NEWS FEED // The faithful of the Archdiocese of Mandalay, Myanmar, are mourning the loss of Father Donald Martin Ye Naing Win, who was brutally killed in a targeted attack Feb. 14 amid the continued unrest in Myanmar.
An investigation is ongoing and the motive of the attack has not yet been identified, according to a Feb. 17 statement from Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) International Executive President Regina Lynch.
“The priest’s death reflects the challenge and immense risk that the Church faces in a context of widespread violence,” Lynch said in the statement, which CatholicVote received via email, “as clashes between the Myanmar army and opposition militias continue.”
According to Time, the conflict in the southeast Asian country began when resistance groups retaliated after a 2021 coup, in which the Myanmar military, the Tatmadaw, seized power.
The Tatmadaw overthrew the Myanmar government after claiming that the country’s elections were fraudulent, leading to a civil war across the region.
Religious leaders have since assumed the role in providing informal education due to extensive school closures resulting from the ongoing civil war, according to a Feb. 18 article from Vatican News.
Fr. Ye Naing Win championed these efforts, ensuring children had access to schooling despite the closures, Vatican News reported.
Lynch noted that Fr. Ye Naing Win, who was 44 when he died, demonstrated fortitude and charity while serving his parish, Our Lady of Lourdes.
“In the face of such violence, that affects the entire population, priests like Father Donald Martin dedicate themselves to helping their communities, providing spiritual comfort and support to the suffering people in the region” she said.
According to Vatican News, an armed group opposing the Tatmadaw has detained ten men in the village of Kan Gyi Taw, where Fr. Ye Naing Win was killed.
Cardinal Charles Maung Bo, the president of Myanmar’s Bishops’ Conference, shared his condolences and urged an end to the hostilities as reported by Vatican News.
“Learning from these heartbreaking experiences that we have encountered,” Bishop Bo wrote, “may the fraternal spirit be awakened, and we earnestly appeal for an end to the violence.”
Lynch stressed ACN’s solidarity with the faithful of the Archdiocese of Mandalay after the loss of Fr. Ye Naing Win.
“His death highlights the difficult situation faced by the Catholic community in Myanmar,” Lynch said, “and the courage of those who continue to serve the people, despite the dangers.”