Kangyi Taw, Myanmar — In a harrowing event on February 14, a priest was viciously murdered within the rectangular confines of the Our Lady of Lourdes Church in the village of Kangyi Taw, located in Myanmar’s turbulent northwestern Sagaing region. The cleric, identified as 44-year-old Fr. Donald Martin Ye Naing Win, succumbed to an aggressive and fatal assault while two witnesses, both women and church employees, were forcibly silenced by the assailants.
Reports suggest that prior to the attack, the women were aiding Fr. Donald in organizing educational activities for children from the parish, which consists of approximately 40 families. According to the testimony they provided to the National Unity Government’s Ministry of Justice—an administration that assumes authority in exile—the attackers stormed in from a nearby village under the influence of substances.
Despite the violent circumstances, Fr. Donald maintained his composure and dignity, responding to his assailant’s command to kneel by affirming, “I only kneel before God: What can I do for you? Is there a matter we can discuss?” This resistance, however, triggered a more brutal response as one attacker attempted to strike him with a sheathed dagger, inadvertently hitting the leader of the group. Enraged, the leader retaliated by drawing his knife and repeatedly stabbing the priest in the body and neck.
Sources close to the matter shared that, as the fatal blows were delivered, Fr. Donald preserved a stoic silence, enduring the grievous assault without a word, reminiscent of an innocent being unjustly sacrificed. The other men merely stood by, witnessing their leader sever Fr. Donald’s throat until his body collapsed in a pool of blood. Following the gruesome act, the attackers swiftly vacated the scene.
The chilling silence was promptly broken by the women who witnessed the murder, raising an alarm that set the local People’s Defense Force on the murderers’ trail. The tragic incident prompted the Government of National Unity to label the perpetrators as members of a local defense group.
The response to Fr. Donald’s brutal demise extends beyond immediate justice pursuits, stirring deep conversations about peace in a region scarred by armed conflict. Archbishop Marco Tin Win of Mandalay, during a poignant service honoring Fr. Donald, implored all factions involved in the ongoing conflicts to abandon their weapons and seek a peaceful resolution.
The incident throws into sharp relief the broader issues of safety and stability in Myanmar, especially in areas like Sagaing, where clashes between rebels and government forces occur frequently. Fr. Donald’s murder is not an isolated event but a reflection of the larger, more complex political and social challenges facing Myanmar today. It underscores an urgent need for dialogue and reconciliation among the myriad groups vying for power in this Southeast Asian nation.