In photos: Praying for the dead in Kayah State

In Demoso Township, the place many have been killed within the army’s marketing campaign of violence, an annual prayer ceremony for the lifeless has taken on a brand new revolutionary spirit.

By FRONTIER

Images MAR NAW

When 35-year-old Khu Reh arrived at the Christian cemetery in Kayah State’s Demoso Township, he was carrying his four-year-old son and a bouquet of white Chrysanthemum flowers, which had featured closely in his marriage ceremony.

“I come each November when the prayer is held and all the time carry my son. It’s like seeing him together with his mom and grandparents,” stated Khu Reh, who like many in Kayah is Roman Catholic.

In earlier years, the household prayed for the souls of Khu Reh’s dad and mom, who each handed in 2015 – his father of a coronary heart assault and his mom from sickness. However in February this 12 months, Khu Reh’s spouse was killed throughout clashes between the Myanmar army and the Karenni Nationalities Defence Power. Khu Reh says his spouse was working her dad and mom’ rice fields when she was struck down by Tatmadaw hearth.

“Earlier than, it was me, my spouse, and my son. Now it’s simply me and my son,” he stated.

One other factor has modified for Khu Reh – in earlier years he travelled to the cemetery from his dwelling, however now he travels from a camp for internally displaced folks.

After the February 2021 army coup and subsequent brutal crackdowns on peaceable protests, armed battle erupted throughout the nation, with Kayah State rising as one of many fiercest battlegrounds. As resistance forces gained floor within the state, taking management of a lot of the countryside and dismantling the army regime’s native administration, the Tatmadaw responded with brutal pressure. The army has been commonly accused of killing civilians, destroying properties and blocking lifesaving assist.

Internationally, Catholics honour the lifeless in early November, in a competition generally known as All Souls’ Day, or Día de los Muertos in Mexico. Right here, the occasion is known as the Prayer for the Spirits.

In Kayah, the deceased are sometimes buried with conventional musical devices. On the day of prayer, candles mild up the cemeteries as a refrain of hymns floats by way of the air. Along with a standard Karenni prayer ceremony, visiting family members additionally sometimes current their deceased family members with their favorite meals and reminisce about their fondest reminiscences.

A priest from a Catholic church in Demoso, who requested to stay nameless, additionally discovered himself within the IDP camp after his church was allegedly shelled by the army earlier this 12 months. Focusing on non secular buildings is taken into account a battle crime.

“The army council troops have been stationed on the church because it was hit by heavy weapons. They’re nonetheless going out and in, so it’s not doable to return,” he stated.

The priest stated since Might final 12 months, eight church buildings have been broken in Demoso, Loikaw and Pekon townships, the latter of which is simply throughout the border in neighbouring Shan State.

“At Saint Peter’s in Loikaw, the troopers stormed the church and stole 20 lakhs in donations [nearly US$1,000]. These circumstances haven’t but acquired justice,” he added.

Regardless of the repeated assaults on their faith, greater than 100 folks gathered on the cemetery at round 5pm on November 2, together with clergymen and nuns in headdresses. They got here carrying bibles, candles, meals choices and flowers.

Whereas in some ways it felt like the standard ceremony, the standard prayers for the lifeless have been imbued with a brand new revolutionary vitality, as lots of these being prayed over have been civilians or resistance fighters killed by the army.

“Now, the family members we’re praying for are those who have been killed throughout the army council’s assaults,” stated one participant. “On this cemetery, there are extra folks who died from heavy weapons than from regular diseases.”

“We pray for the lifeless and we additionally pray for the autumn of the dictator.”