In a significant development from Myanmar's conflict-ridden Sagaing region, nine individuals have been sentenced to 20 years in prison for their involvement in the brutal killing of Catholic priest Father Donald Martin Ye Naing Win. The sentencing was delivered by a parallel judicial system operated by the People’s Defense Forces (PDF) under the administration of the National Unity Government (NUG), a civilian-led opposition to Myanmar’s military junta.
Father Donald, aged 44, was murdered on February 14, 2025, inside the compound of Our Lady of Lourdes Church in Kangyitaw village, Shwebo Township. He was reportedly attacked by a group of intoxicated men suspected to be members of a local PDF unit. Eyewitnesses stated that before being fatally stabbed, the priest courageously responded to demands to kneel by declaring, “I kneel only before God.”
The murder shocked Myanmar’s Christian community and drew widespread condemnation from both national and international religious leaders. More than 5,000 mourners, including priests, nuns, and laity, attended his funeral on February 16 in Pyin Oo Lwin, defying the volatile security situation in the region.
Following the killing, local PDF members apprehended the suspects, who were allegedly from within their own ranks. The accused were brought before a PDF-established court in mid-July, where the trial took place under the emerging alternative judicial system set up by the NUG in areas beyond the military’s control. Though reports slightly differ on the number of individuals convicted—with some citing eight and others nine—the court handed down 20-year prison terms to each of the identified perpetrators.
Family members of Father Donald and church officials expressed mixed feelings about the verdict. While some welcomed the sentencing as a step toward justice, others questioned the lack of transparency surrounding the trial and the motivations behind the attack. Religious leaders continue to call for further investigations and accountability.
The killing and subsequent trial underscore the complex dynamics in Myanmar’s civil conflict, where legal authority is fragmented and competing powers, including the military junta and the NUG, administer justice in parallel systems. The NUG condemned the murder and reaffirmed its commitment to upholding humanitarian norms in territories under its influence.
Father Donald’s death has highlighted the growing risks faced by religious leaders in Myanmar amid political turmoil. As violence persists, communities remain vulnerable, and the role of faith leaders as symbols of peace and resistance has become increasingly perilous.
The Catholic Church in Myanmar, led by figures such as Cardinal Charles Maung Bo, continues to appeal for peace, dialogue, and the protection of religious freedom. The sentencing in Father Donald’s case, while significant, is seen by many as just one chapter in a broader and ongoing struggle for justice and stability in Myanmar.