By Robin Gomes
VATICAN CITY — The Catholic nun of Myanmar whose powerful gesture of pleading with security forces to avoid a bloodbath drew intense media attention worldwide, is grateful to Pope Francis for his closeness to the people. Since the Feb. 1 military coup, the entire nation has been in turmoil with protests and a civil disobedience strike, demanding the release of their elected leader Aung San Suu Kyi and the restoration of democracy. The military has however taken a hard line, with security forces cracking down ruthlessly on peaceful protesters, with numerous deaths.
Grateful the Pope remembers us
“We are deeply grateful to the Pope because he remembers us. He knows Myanmar, he was among us in 2017,” Sister Ann Nu Tawng told the Vatican’s Fides news agency. On Feb. 28, the 45-year-old Xaverian nun noted that a contingent of heavily armed police had gathered near her order’s clinic in Myitkyina, the capital of the northern state of Kachin. She told BBC News they were firing to break up the protest. In panic, many young protesters sought refuge in the clinic.
Noting the police were preparing for another assault, Sister Tawng decided to face the forces. She slowly approached the security forces, went down on her knees and bending over with folded hands earnestly pleaded with them not to fire or harm the unarmed people. Seeing her, she said, some of the police also knelt down.
“Just shoot me”
She told them she could not bear to see the people suffer anymore. They told her they respected her but they had to follow orders. They told her to leave immediately, warning she was in grave danger, but she stood her ground saying, “Just shoot me if you want to. The protesters have no weapons and they are just showing their desire peacefully,” Sister Nu Tawng told the security men. Videos of her courage and compassion has since gone viral worldwide drawing immense applause.
Pope: “I too kneel”
Pope Francis was among those deeply touched by her courage and testimony. Speaking at the end of his weekly general audience in the Vatican on Wednesday, he launched yet another appeal, emulating the nun’s feelings. “Once again, and with great sorrow, I feel it is urgent to mention the dramatic situation in Myanmar, where so many people, especially the young, are losing their lives to offer hope to their country,” the Pope said on March 17. “I too kneel on the streets of Myanmar and say: stop the violence! I too reach out my arms and say: may dialogue prevail!” the Pope said in his 4th appeal since the coup.
