'Shoot me instead': Myanmar Nun Pleads with Junta Forces*

This handout photo taken on March 8, 2021 and released on March 9 by the Myitkyina News Journal shows a nun pleading with police not to harm protesters in Myitkyina in Myanmar's Kachin state, amid a crackdown on demonstrations against the military coup. (Photo by Handout / Myitkyina News Journal / AFP)

Source: New Straits Times

https://bit.ly/31GTRPI

Kneeling in the dust of a northern Myanmar city, Sr. Ann Rose Nu Tawng implored a group of heavily armed police officers to spare "the children" and take her life instead. The poignant image of the Catholic nun in her simple white habit, hands outstretched in a plea to the forces of the military junta, has gone viral, earning her widespread praise in the predominantly Buddhist nation.

"I knelt down... begging them not to shoot and torture the children, but to shoot me and kill me instead," she recounted. Her act of courage in Myitkyina on 9 March 2021, unfolded amidst the turmoil following the military's February 1, 2021 ousting of civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi. As protests demanding a return to democracy continued, the junta intensified its use of force, deploying tear gas, water cannons, rubber bullets, and live ammunition. Protesters in Myitkyina, the capital of Kachin state, donned hard hats and wielded makeshift shields.

When police began to encircle the demonstrators, Sr. Ann Rose Nu Tawng and two other nuns urged them to disperse. "The police were chasing to arrest them, and I was worried for the children," she said, prompting the 45-year-old nun to fall to her knees in desperation. As she begged for restraint, the police opened fire on the crowd behind her. "The children panicked and ran to the front... I couldn't do anything but pray for God to save and help the children," she recalled.

In a haunting moment, she witnessed a man shot in the head fall lifeless before her, followed by the searing sting of tear gas. "I felt like the world was crashing," she lamented. "I'm very sad it happened while I was begging them." Local rescue teams confirmed that two men were shot dead at the scene, although it remained unclear whether live rounds or rubber bullets were used. One of the deceased, Zin Min Htet, was placed in a glass casket and transported on a golden hearse adorned with white and red flowers. Mourners raised three fingers in a symbol of resistance, while a musical ensemble of brass players, drummers, and a bagpiper in crisp white uniforms led the funeral procession.

Kachin, Myanmar's northernmost state, is home to the Kachin ethnic group and has been embroiled in a long-standing conflict between ethnic armed groups and the military. Tens of thousands have been displaced, seeking refuge in camps across the state, with Christian organizations among those providing aid. This was not Sr. Ann Rose Nu Tawng's first encounter with security forces. On February 28, 2021, she had made a similar plea for mercy, approaching riot-equipped police, kneeling, and imploring them to cease their actions. "I have thought myself dead already since February 28," she reflected, recalling her decision to confront the armed officers. Joined by fellow sisters and the local bishop, they surrounded her as she pleaded for the safety of the protesters. "We were there to protect our sister and our people because she had her life at risk," Sr. Mary John Paul explained. The city has witnessed frequent crackdowns since the coup, including a violent dispersal of peaceful teachers that forced many into hiding.

According to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners, more than 60 people have been killed in anti-coup demonstrations across the country. Despite the pervasive fear, Sr. Ann Rose Nu Tawng remains resolute. "I can't stand by and do nothing while witnessing the suffering around me and seeing all of Myanmar grieving," she declared, emphasizing her commitment to stand up for "the children."