Myanmar junta plans to demolish Catholic cathedral

The junta plans to expand excavations in the ancient city of Toungoo to include areas that are currently home to the Buddhist buildings and the Sacred Heart Cathedral of Taungngu, according to the official letter.

Archaeological excavations are already underway in Toungoo, also known as Ketumati, the first capital established by King Mingyi Nyo in 1510 as the centre of the Toungoo dynasty, which ruled most of Myanmar for more than 200 years. It is located in Toungoo township in Myanmar’s Bago Region.

The August 10 letter signed by Khin Maung Aye, deputy director of the junta’s Ministry of Religious Affairs and Culture, was sent to the chief Buddhist monk of the Sangha Committee in Toungoo township. It said that the religious sites are situated within the areas of the ancient city’s walls and moat.

The excavation and preservation of the northern wall and moat of the ancient city remains a “priority”, and “religious buildings located within the cultural zone” should remove whatever they should remove, the letter said.

Church officials said that they have been informed of the junta’s excavation plans.

Local parishioners are “shocked”, said Fr Xavier Wine Maung, the cathedral parish priest. The church “holds great personal significance” for the community where generations were baptised, married and prayed over before their burial, and are shocked to learn that it will be demolished, he said.

“They come to me and ask, ‘What should we do if this happens?” the priest said, adding that he has “no clear answers”.  The Catholic community “is powerless to defend their beautiful cathedral”.

“My only hope is to plead for leniency, asking them to save at least the main church building. It doesn’t matter if they demolish other [Church] buildings in the compound,” the priest said.

Buddhist and Protestant leaders have also criticised the proposed removal of buildings.

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Junta plans to demolish Myanmar cathedral, Buddhist monasteries (UCA News)