Cardinal Charles Bo, the head of the Catholic Church in Myanmar, yesterday used a Parents’ Day speech to lay into politicians for failing to solve social woes.
In a message to mark the holiday, the outspoken leader said the country’s rulers have not brought about “family spirit” as was hoped in 2012 but instead have become “protectors of crony capitalism”, he said.
He urged President Thein Sein and opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi to be good parents and address issues like deprivation, drug use and hate speech.
“The integrity of the family is being eroded by the country’s poverty. Family spirit is weak,” the 67-year old Cardinal said.
“Now the world is asking a question: Are our rulers, rulers for all or for a few only?”
He cited poor education and widespread drug use across the country, according to a report in Catholic news agency UCA News.
He also said political leaders had failed to crack down on hate speech, which has proliferated online since bouts of intercommunal violence between Buddhists and Muslims in Rakhine state and elsewhere began in 2012.
Charles Bo, who was appointed Myanmar’s first Cardinal in January, already has a reputation for fiery speeches.
In a rousing Easter address, he warned the government: “Do not bury our people once again into poverty. Do not open their resources to the international looters and cronies.”
Photo: Cardinal Charles Maung Bo of Myanmar speaks during an interview at his office in Yangon on January 6, 2015 / Soe Than Win / AFP
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