Pope Francis Calls On Myanmar's Military Regime To Allow International Aid

Pope Francis. (Wikimedia Commons/Aleteia Image Department)

JAKARTA - Pope Francis asked the Myanmar military regime to allow the entry of humanitarian aid and respect neutral places of refuge such as temples and schools.

Speaking during his Sunday blessing before the congregation in St. Peter's Square, Vatican, Sunday, June 20, the Pope called for attention and assistance to the thousands of Myanmar citizens who have been homeless and starving.

In addition, on the occasion of the United Nations (UN) World Refugee Day, the Pope calls on people to open their hearts, share their sorrows and joys with refugees around the world.

Further on Myanmar, the Pope expressed his prayers and support with the Catholic Bishop of Myanmar, who requested that the Myanmar military regime allow the entry of humanitarian aid

Citing Reuters, Pope Francis, who has made numerous requests for the release of political prisoners in Myanmar, spoke of the "heartbreaking experience of the thousands of people in the country who are displaced and dying of hunger".

The Pope also called for the Myanmar military regime to respect churches, pagodas, monasteries, mosques, temples, schools and hospitals, as neutral places of refuge for Myanmar civilians.

Earlier, the UN General Assembly on Friday, June 18 last week, called for a halt to the flow of arms to Myanmar, urging the military to respect the November election results and release political prisoners, including detained leader Aung San Suu Kyi.

"The risk of a large-scale civil war is real," UN special envoy to Myanmar Christine Schraner Burgener told the General Assembly after the vote.

"Time is critical. The opportunity to reverse a military takeover is narrowing."

For information, as of Sunday, June 20, the Association for Assistance to Political Prisoners (AAPP) recorded 872 civilians killed and 6,219 detained, with 5,033 of them still in detention since the coup of the Myanmar military regime on February 1.

Myanmar Coup. The VOI editorial team continues to monitor the political situation in one of the ASEAN member countries. Casualties from civilians continue to fall. Readers can follow the news covering the Myanmar military coup by clicking this link.