The Story Behind the Catholic Nun who became Viral Begging Police not to Shoot in Myanmar - Sister Ann a Hero!

On Twitter an account for Cardinal Archbishop Charles Maung Bo, of Yangon, Burma, tweeted the following words and photos: Catholic nun saves young demonstrators: Cardinal Bo wants the country to be "transformed" peace prayer prophecy nuns religious institutes politics civil society local churches. These pictures quickly went viral on social media.

A Catholic nun took to the streets in the city of Myitkyina, the capital of Kachin State in the north of Mynamar, and asked the security forces not to shoot young demonstrators who were protesting peacefully. Sister Ann Nu Thawng of the Congregation of St. Francis Xavier in the diocese of Myitkyina, became a new role model and hero on February 28th.

 According to the United Nations, the Burmese police opened fire, killing 18 people and injuring more than 30 nationwide. "In the Myitkyina area, demonstrations so far have always been peaceful and without incidents. However, yesterday episodes of violence risked precipitating the situation", said Catholic Joseph Kung Za Hmung, editor of the "Gloria News Journal", the first Catholic online newspaper in Myanmar. "The action of the nun and the response of the police who, upon seeing the nun's plea, stopped, surprised many of us. Sister Ann Nu Thawng is today a role model for Church leaders: bishops and priests are called to step out of the their comfort zones and follow her courage as an example". Many non-Catholics also praised Sister Thawng's brave efforts, whose entry went viral on social media. "More than 100 demonstrators were able to find shelter in her monastery. It saved them from brutal beatings and arrests by the police", says the Director. 

It was in a coup on February 1st, 2021 that the Burmese army took power, declaring a one-year "state of emergency".  The National League for Democracy's party civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi, was taken under arrest.