5th Waning of Tabodwe, 1386 ME
(February 17, 2025)
1. The National Unity Government expresses its deepest condolences regarding the incident on February 14, 2025, at 6:00 PM, in Kan Gyi Taw Village, Shwebo District, where Reverend Fr. Donald Martin of the Mandalay Diocese, aged 44, was murdered at the Lord Mettawthakinma Church. This heinous act deeply saddens us and we are fervently working to bring the perpetrators to justice by the law.
2. The People's Defense Force (PDF) Battalion 5 of Shwebo District, in coordination with district People's Defense Organization , promptly arrested ten suspects upon receiving the news. Initial investigations reveal that the suspects are members of a local defense group and are armed personnel. The Ministry of Defense of the National Unity Government is taking steps to bring them before a military tribunal for proper judicial proceedings in line with legal protocols. A special investigation tribunal has been established, and inquiries are currently underway.
3. The National Unity Government strongly condemns any group that targets and attacks civilians, including religious leaders, and reiterates that perpetrators will be investigated and prosecuted without discrimination, strictly by the law.
Union Minister
(ပုံ)
Union Minister
Ministry of Home Affairs and Immigration
National Unity Government