[피플in포커스]”Shoot me”… A nun kneeling in front of a Myanmar military policeman with a gun

Sister Ahn Rosa Nu Taung is crying in front of armed policemen and appealing to the protesters not to shoot. (Cardinal Charles Maung-Bo Twitter capture/News1)

On February 28, when the largest number of victims, estimated to be at least 18, occurred after the military coup in Myanmar on the 1st of last month, about 100 protesters barely avoided indiscriminate shooting by the military and police.

This is because there was Sister Ann Rosa Nu Thawng, who knelt in front of an army policeman holding a rifle and shield and cried out with tears, saying, “Do not shoot.”

According to the Catholic newspaper Oserbatore Romano, Sister Nu Taung is a member of the Apostolic Society of Saint Francis Javier (SFX) in the Diocese of Michina in northern Myanmar, and along with other nuns cared for injured civilians during the protests. On the 28th, after witnessing the situation where the protesters were in a shooting crisis, they ran out and took action.

Sister Ahn Rosa Nu Taung kneels in front of armed policemen and appeals to the protesters not to shoot. (Cardinal Charles Maung-Bo Twitter capture/News1)

Sister Nu Taung knelt in front of the military police and cried out with tears, saying, “Do not kill innocent people. If you want to shoot someone, shoot me.” The policeman was embarrassed and withdrew a few minutes later.

One of the protesters told Oservatore that “I was saved by the miraculous intervention of Sister,” while the other participant said, “After confirming that the military police had left the scene, Sister ran back to take care of the injured.”

Cardinal Charles Maung Bo, the chairman of the Myanmar Bishops’ Church and former Archbishop of Yangon, said on his Twitter on the 28th of last month that “about 100 protesters were able to escape from the police thanks to Sister Nu Taung.” She also posted several photos of Sister Nu Taung, who was crying with her hands on her knees in front of the military police.

Sister Ahn Rosa Nu Taung kneels in front of armed policemen and appeals to the protesters not to shoot. (Cardinal Charles Maung-Bo Twitter capture/News1)

Sister Nu Taung is said to have said, “I prepared to give my life for the church, the people, and the country.”

Myanmar’s military and police are increasingly raising the level of repression by protesting the coup and firing indiscriminately against protesters demanding the resignation of the military and the release of state advisor Aung San Suu Kyi. On the 28th of last month, at least 18 people were killed and about 30 people were injured.

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