To our beloved Sisters and Brothers…
the courageous people of Myanmar suffering under a brutal military coup,

Greetings of solidarity and love. 

Our hearts go out to you. Global news and personal friends who are in Myanmar tell us firsthand about your extreme plight – we feel your pain.  A Myanmarese Sister texted us: 

“My mind and body are in illness … Myanmar situation is very terrible day and night. Myanmar Army are arresting in public people every day … pray for us … Thank you for your kindness and concern.”

We are writing you from the Philippines although we come from different parts of the world. We have joined our voices with “Sacred Springs of Loyola School of Theology, Manila” to reach across the miles with our hands outstretched in solidarity. Friends, we are ONE with you. You do not deserve the disrespect and cruelty you are now experiencing.  We are deeply saddened.

We condemn the cold-blooded brutality of the military. We are standing with you as you fight for your freedom and join in your cry that your human dignity be respected – absolutely. We honor and acknowledge the more than 800 courageous, mostly young people, who have sacrificed their lives in the name of the struggle … some cruelly murdered in their homes for doing nothing at all. They were simply freedom-loving people. 

You have borne the burden of ruthless military rule for too many years; it has been too long—especially since the coup of 1962 to the present day. To all the courageous defectors from the military, although you are still very few, we pray that your example will encourage others to do what is right and bring to a conclusion these decades of military oppression.

We have been very moved and inspired by Sr. Ann Rose Nu Tawang. She fell to her knees in front of the police and cried out, “I begged them not to shoot and torture the children, shoot me and kill me instead.” It seems public officials will stop at nothing to hold on to power such as, Min Aung Hlaing who said, “there is nothing I dare not do.” And Gen. Ne Win exclaimed, “soldiers do not shoot at the sky, they shoot at the point (the people).” It is the young people who are bearing the brunt – they are the seed out of which eventually freedom, justice and democracy will grow. 

Our sisters and brothers, you are not alone. We wish we could do more but know that deep in our hearts we are with you. We have not forgotten you. Please let us know if there is anything we are able to do on your behalf. Our prayers coming from the silent centers of our heart together with our communal prayers rise above to the Son on the cross. His resurrected power is with you.  

From the Sacred Springs 
Always in God’s powerful Love,

Carmen Valdés, PhD
President, Sacred Springs Dialogue Institute of Spirituality and Sustainabilty

Sacred Springs Dialogue Institute of Spirituality and Sustainability Members:
Edna Manlapaz, PhD                                                                       
Archbishop Antonio Ledesma, SJ
Ruben Habito, PhD
Vitaliano Nanagas II
Honeybee Hubahib                                                                               
Nina Vinluan         
Pauline Salvana-Bautista
Fr Jojo Fung, SJ

AWARE:
Betty Nelle                                                                                             
Cleo Llamas
Maria Isabel Ongpin                                                                              
Maridol Mabanta
Narzalina Z. Lim                                                                                       
Phyllis Zaballero
Pilar Singian                                                                                          
Vicky Garchitorena

Institute of Formation and Religious Studies (IFRS):
Miguel Benson Lambino, PhD                                                             
Helen R Graham MM, PhD
Patricia McAuliffe, PhD                                                                        
Hlaing Zarni, M. A.

Sisters of Our Lady of Sion:
Anne Brittain, nds                                                                                     
Celia Deutsch, nds
Crystal Anievas                                                                                           
Elizabeth Burgo, nds
Marie Alphonse Riboni, nds                                                                     
Michele Debrouwer, nds
Oonah O’Shea, nds                                                                                    
Teresa Brittain, nds

Ateneo de Manila University:
Mary Racelis, PhD

Maryknoll Sisters, Cambodia:
Regina Pellachor, MM

Religious of the Assumption:
Fe Beltran, r.a.
Regivic Yulo, r.a.
Jo Concepcion, r.a.
Myrna Maluyao, r.a.
Mary Ann Azanza, r.a.
Ana Maria Melocoton, r.a.

Society of Divine Word:
Flavie Villanueva, SVD

Missionaries of God’s Love:
Paul Uwemedimo, MGL

Friends of our Sisters and Brothers of Myanmar:

Anyone else who wants to add their name send a text to pinkyvaldes[at]gmail[dot]com
We will add it on as our letter circulates.

Blessings

Download full text of statement in pdf.