Local priest’s first parish ‘completely wiped out’

By David Myers

Southwest Kansas Register

As the number of those who have died as a result of Cycl Nargis, which raked across Myanmar May 3, continued to rise at press time, the tragic effects were perhaps felt most personally in southwest Kansas by Father Benjamin Martin.

“The town of Laputta, which was in my first assigned parish, was completely wiped out and over a thousand people lost their lives,” said Father Martin, pastor at Tribune, Marienthal and Leoti. “I am not sure if my former parishioners are included or not. This is the first time I ever heard of such a strong storm in Burma.”

At press time, the number of dead was expected to reach 100,000, many due to widespread illnesses, such as malaria and diarrhea. According to an AP report, early estimates indicated that 20 percent of children in the most devastated areas were suffering from diarrhea.

Osamu Kunii, UNICEF’s chief of health and nutrition in Yangon, Myanmar’s largest city, said that most of the area affected was covered by dirty water, and that there was little or no access to food or clean drinking water.

“My cousin is a priest in that region,” Father Martin said. “I don’t think they will find him. I heard that the nuns are also gone. The whole area was wiped away. Now the water has subsided after a week, and all the dead bodies are there and they don’t know who is who. This government doesn’t care. They don’t try anything to save people.”

Although Father Martin hadn’t heard from his family, he expressed hope that they were okay since they were not in the path of the storm. Meanwhile, he is frustrated and angered by a government he calls “stupid” and “non-caring.”

“The reason the government doesn’t want foreigners in that area is that militarily, it is a very delicate area,” Father Martin said. “They are afraid that enemies can get hold of that region. In 1987, some insurgents tried to get in that area, and the military tried to wipe out everyone there; they didn’t separate the insurgents from the local people.” He said that many people died when the military ransacked the region, attacking people with Billy clubs.

When Father Martin last visited his home country in February, he said that he and a friend were followed by intelligence officers the entire time.

“They inquired about what we did, what we said, and with whom we talked,” Father Martin explained.

On May 10 (after the SKR went to press) the people of Myanmar were to begin voting on a constitution that Father Martin said was written by the current government and designed for the government’s benefit, “to keep them in power, to protect them from their crimes. That is far more important to them than saving their people.

“Even though people hate this government, they are afraid,” Father Martin said. “The guy ruling the country (General Than Shwe) doesn’t know about humanity or anything. All he knows is to protect himself, his crimes. They don’t care about the people dying.”

According to Bishop Ronald M. Gilmore, the Diocese of Dodge City is awaiting word concerning three Burmese priests who have served in the Diocese of Dodge City.

“We have not heard about Fathers Francis Zan, Zeno YeSwe, and Pius TaCaw who have formerly served in our diocese and are currently at home in Myanmar,” the bishop said.

“We hold them and all those affected in our prayer even as we seek to provide what assistance we are able.”

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