Myanmar junta troops burnt down the 129-year-old St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Chan Thar Village in Sagaing Region’s Ye-U Township on 15 January.

A local resident said: “Junta soldiers had been stationed in Chan Thar Village and had been torching houses since 14 January. 100 houses were burnt down by junta soldiers. They slept the night at the historical church and burnet it down at 6:00 a.m.”

According to reports the junta soldiers also torched everything in the church compound.

A member of the Ye-U Township People’s Defence Force said: “200 Military Council soldiers and Pyu Saw Htee members burnt down everything until the bell tower fell down. The church was about 129 years old. It is the biggest church in Sagaing Region’s Ye-U Township.