EAO, 1 April 2021 -- After 'Bloody Saturday' (March 27) when the Myanmar armed forces killed no fewer than 114 civilians, including students and small children, the EAO region Salesian Catholics and Salesian Family have intensified their prayer and solidarity movement.

First of all, many Asian local Churches express their closeness to Myanmar'a suffering people for past two month, with more than 521 people killed and more than 2600 detained by the military junta in power since Feb 1, 2021. Among many Asia bishops also Korean Cardinal Andrew Yeom soo-jung (Archbishop of Seoul, South Korea) invited the 1M strong Catholic community for a Myanmar Novena prayer (March 30-April 7).

The CIAO (FMA Sisters Interprovincial Conference of East Asia: 8 provinces and 1100 sisters) invited their members to intense prayer on March 31. The FMA provinces of the Philippines - Papua New Guinea (FIL) offered their online digital platform for this occasion.

The SDB and Salesian Cooperators provinces of many EAO countries responded to the appeal of MYM vice-province superior for prayers and financial solidarity. In many countries the collection and prayer campaign is to be intensified during Holy Week.

Two months after the military coup the world media already don't pay too much attention to this situation and so far the pressure of the international community didn't bring any visible fruits. We get daily accurate and direct information through the Catholic media (Vatican news, UCA news, AsiaNews: PIME) or through the social media of our MYM Salesian Family members.

In spite of the more violent military junta response in killing more of their own compatriots, we witness great courage and determination to suffer for a freedom and better future of their country, that experienced already the military rule for 50 years (1962-2011). The citizens responses are getting always more creative (drum beating, protest with garbage in public places, appeal to the United Nations in the streets of Yangon) always as the CDM (civil disobedience movement).

A few days ago Pope Francis also shared his solidarity with the suffering people of Myanmar he visited personally few years ago, in a symbolic way - 'I kneel with you in the streets of Myanmar' . Let's continue our solidarity and prayer to move the heart of the ruthless military in this country and move the world leaders for a more effective response to the desperate cry of Myanmarìs suffering people.

Holy Triduum of 2021 in prayer with Myanmar!

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