"With little competition, only these individuals control the economy, which leads to a lack of development and poverty," – Bishop Yaw Han.
Ordained in 1995, Fr Tim Mulroy is a former school teacher from Swinford, and has served in Japan and the US.
Trócaire and Christian aid support women parliamentarians from Myanmar, Pakistan and Sierre Leone attending recent International Congress of Women’s Caucuses in Dublin.
Cardinal Charles Maung Bo of Yangon has warned that while global attention is focused on the Rohingya crisis, another ethnic minority, the predominantly Christian Kachin, are being persecuted by the military.
“May beloved Syria at last recover respect for the dignity of every person through a shared commitment to rebuild the fabric of society, without regard for ethnic and religious membership.”
In a telegram sent to the Italian President Sergio Mattarella, Pope Francis said he was going to Myanmar to “encourage the small but fervent Catholic community and meet believers of diverse religions”.
Archbishop Eamon Martin said: “It is shocking to realise that in the twenty-first century, Christians continue to be persecuted, displaced, intimidated, tortured, and even executed on account of their faith. Places of worship are targeted by violence and destruction.”
Chairman of Trócaire, Bishop William Crean, says the development agency is working on the ground in Myanmar and “committed money immediately to the situation”.
Columban missionaries call on government of Myanmar/Burma to immediately allow international humanitarian assistance to reach people in need.
Some Buddhist leaders are displeased with the strong line Pope Francis has taken over the treatment of the country’s Muslim Rohingya minority.
Last year public donated €23 million to programmes which benefited 2.4 million people in 24 countries according to annual report.
“A new wave of boat people, ejected by excruciating poverty and conflict from both Myanmar and Bangladesh, are adrift in the seas.”
Fourteen different countries are represented, including some that do not currently have a cardinal, and some that have never had one.
