A Catholic religious sister has been sentenced to eight months in prison by a military tribunal in Myanmar after being accused of providing support to people displaced by the armed conflict in Kayah State (Karenni), one of the regions hardest hit by violence since the 2021 coup d’état.
The convicted sister is Sr. Benedetta Nya Moe, a member of the Sisters of Charity of Saints Bartolomea Capitanio and Vincenza Gerosa. According to information from Church sources, the religious sister was detained two weeks ago near Loikaw and later transferred to a military prison, where she received her sentence last Wednesday.
Accused for her humanitarian work
For years, Sr. Benedetta has carried out intense humanitarian work in the areas of Demoso and Loikaw, assisting with healthcare for internally displaced persons. Her tasks included distributing medicines and organizing emergency aid together with other religious sisters and Church institutions.
Available reports indicate that she was arrested while transporting a wounded or sick displaced person to a hospital in Loikaw. During a search of her mobile phone, authorities reportedly found information about donations and messages related to the conflict, elements that were later used to support the charges.
The military tribunal convicted her under an article of the Penal Code that, since the 2021 coup led by the military junta, has frequently been used to prosecute individuals accused of collaborating with the opposition or with groups considered hostile to the regime.
A region marked by war
Sr. Benedetta belongs to the Kayan ethnic group and had recently celebrated twenty-five years of religious life. Her congregation continues to carry out humanitarian assistance work in Kayah State, despite the ongoing insecurity in the region.
Eastern Myanmar remains the scene of intense clashes between the army and various resistance groups, a situation that has caused the displacement of thousands of people and a growing humanitarian crisis.
Call to prayer
Following the announcement of the sentence, Catholic communities across Myanmar have begun prayer chains for the religious sister’s release and for the protection of those who continue to provide humanitarian aid in the conflict-affected areas.
Christians make up around six percent of Myanmar’s population, a predominantly Buddhist country where the Church maintains a significant role in education, healthcare, and social assistance, especially among the ethnic minorities most affected by the civil war.