As Fides learned from the local Church, Father John Paul Lwel, a priest in the diocese of Pekhon, and Father John Bosco, a priest in the Archdiocese of Taunggyi, while travelling with two drivers and a young student, were stopped at a checkpoint and arrested by army soldiers on February 21.

The arrested priests belong to the “St. Therese Little Way Missionary Institute”, a local Burmese religious congregation. The small group wanted to bring humanitarian aid to the internally displaced people in the village of Le Htun, which is part of the municipality of Moebye, in the diocese of Pekhon. Their intention was also to accompany some priests from Pekhon and temporarily transfer them to Taunggyi, in areas less exposed to fighting, in order to protect them.

As reported to Fides, the local clergy of Pekhon are in fact subjected to acts of intimidation and violence.

In the municipality of Moebye, soldiers broke into the house of the Catholic priest residing in the city and stole the money that belonged to the Church and was used for pastoral needs and to help refugees. Confirming that the two priests are still under arrest, Fides sources in the diocese of Pekhon say that the reason for their arrest remains unknown.

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