‘Shoot me’: Nun’s desperate appeal to save children’s lives amid Myanmar protests

Kneeling before them in the dust of a town in northern Myanmar, Sister Ann Rose Nu Tawng He begged a group of heavily armed police to forgive “the children” and kill themselves instead.

The image of the Catholic nun in a simple white coat, hands outstretched, pleading with the forces of the country’s new junta as they prepare to quell a protest has gone viral and won her praise in the majority country Buddhist.

“I knelt down … begging them not to shoot and torture the children, but to shoot and kill me”, he said on Tuesday.

His act of bravery in the town of Myitkyina on Monday came as Myanmar grapples with the chaotic consequences of the military overthrow of civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi on February 1. As protests progressed to demand a return to democracy, the junta has steadily stepped up its use of force, using tear gas, water cannons, rubber bullets and live ammunition.

On Monday, protesters took to the streets of Myitkyina, the capital of Kachin state, wearing homemade helmets and shields. When the police began to gather around her, Sister Ann Rose Nu Tawng and two other nuns begged them to leave.

“The police were chasing them to arrest them and I was worried about the children“, He said.

It was then that the 45-year-old nun fell to her knees. Moments later, as she begged to hold back, the police started shooting at the crowd of protesters behind her.

“The children panicked and ran to the front … I couldn’t do anything, but I prayed that God would save and help the children.”, He said.

She first saw a man with a bullet in the head fall dead in front of her, then felt the tear gas injection. “I felt like the world was falling apart,” He said. “I am very sad about what happened while I begged you.”

A local rescue team confirmed to AFP that two men were shot dead at the scene during Monday’s protest, but did not confirm whether real bullets or rubber bullets were used.

On Tuesday, one of the deceased, Zin Min Htet, was placed in a glass coffin and carried in a golden hearse covered with white and red flowers. Mourners raised three fingers in symbol of resistance, while a musical ensemble of metal musicians, percussionists and a bagpiper in crisp white uniforms led the funeral procession.

Myanmar’s northernmost state, Kachin, is home to the Kachin ethnic group and is the site of a years-long conflict between armed groups and the military. Tens of thousands of people have fled their homes to IDP camps across the state, and Christian groups are among the organizations helping them.

Monday was not Sister Ann Rose Nu Tawng’s first meeting with the security forces; on February 28, he made a similar plea for clemency, walking slowly towards the police in riot gear, kneeling and begging them to stop.

“I already thought that I was dead since February 28”, he said about the day he made the decision to confront the armed police.

On Monday, she was joined by her sisters and the local bishop, who surrounded her as she pleaded for mercy for the protesters. “We were there to protect our sister and our people because her life was in danger”, Sister Mary John Paul told AFP.

Sister Ann Rose Nu Tawng said she would continue to stand up for “the children”.

“I cannot stand and watch and do nothing, see what is happening in front of my eyes while all of Myanmar is in mourning”, He said.

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