NUG Announces 10 Suspects Arrested for Killing of Father Donald Martin

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NUG announces that 10 suspects have been arrested for the killing of Father Donald Martin, a Christian priest from the Mandalay Archdiocese, and will be prosecuted in a military tribunal.

The National Unity Government NUG has announced that 10 suspects have been arrested in connection with the murder of Father Donald Martin, a 44-year-old priest from the Mandalay Archdiocese, in Kantharyar Village, Shwebo District, Sagaing Region. The suspects will be tried in a military tribunal.

On February 14, at around 6 PM, Father Donald Martin was killed at the Church of Our Lady of Lourdes in Kantharyar Village. The NUG expressed deep sorrow over the incident and stated that it is urgently working to ensure the perpetrators are brought to justice in accordance with the law.

The Shwebo District Battalion 5 of the People’s Defense Force (PDF) and local People’s Defense Teams swiftly arrested 10 suspects on the same day. Preliminary investigations revealed that the suspects are members of a local defense group and are armed. The NUG’s Ministry of Defense will prosecute them in a military tribunal and take legal action against them.

A special investigation tribunal has been formed, and inquiries are ongoing. The NUG strongly condemns attacks on religious leaders and civilians, regardless of the perpetrators, and vows to investigate and prosecute such acts without bias, ensuring justice is served.

The Catholic Christian community in Mandalay has called for justice and effective action regarding the priest’s murder.

“A series of unresolved issues led to this tragic incident. The perpetrators are undoubtedly at fault. The fact that a religious leader was targeted is unacceptable to the villagers. They must face the consequences of their actions,” said a local resident.

The murdered priest was laid to rest yesterday, and the suspects are currently under strict security as investigations continue.

Cardinal Charles Maung Bo, the President of Myanmar’s Bishops’ Conference, expressed this in a message of condolences he sent for the death of Father Donald Martin Ye Naing Win, who was killed by an armed group as the conflict persists between Myanmar’s military and resistance forces.

The new cathedral hit on 6 February, was rendered unusable after aerial bombardments damaged its roof and stained glass windows. There were no injuries in the bombing because the priests and faithful had already left the area due to the poor security conditions and the ongoing fighting.

The National Unity Government Announcement is as below:

Announcement No. (01/2025)
(February 17, 2025)

The National Unity Government expresses deep sorrow and regret over the killing of Father Donald Martin, a 44-year-old priest from the Mandalay Archdiocese, which took place on February 14, 2025, at 6:00 PM at Ludmae Daw Thakhinma Pagoda in Kankyi Taw Village, Shwebo District. The government is actively working to ensure that the perpetrators of this crime are brought to justice in accordance with the law.
Upon receiving information about the incident, the People’s Defense Force (PDF) Shwebo District Battalion (5) and Local People’s Defense Groups immediately coordinated efforts and arrested 10 suspects on the same day. Preliminary investigations reveal that the suspects are members of a local militia group and are armed personnel. The National Unity Government’s Ministry of Defense will prosecute them through a military tribunal and take appropriate legal action. A special investigative committee has already been formed, and the investigation is currently underway.
The National Unity Government strongly condemns all attacks targeting religious leaders and civilians, regardless of the perpetrators. The government reaffirms its commitment to thoroughly investigate such crimes and take legal action against those responsible, without any discrimination.