Young and active Catholic teacher Saw Ye Thiha in the Diocese of Pathein in the Ayeyarwaddy Region of Myanmar was killed at his house on October 17.

“He is single and loved by many people. He was robbed and stabbed. He is 34 years old,” said a CDM (Civil Disobedience Movement) teacher who does not want to mention her name according to the Facebook page of those who want to develop Zalun town.

It was also written in the invitation to the funeral service that “Robert Saw Ye Thiha at the age of 33 has been asleep in Christ. His funeral Mass will be celebrated in the parish church of Sacred Heart of Maryland, and burial will be at 10 am on October 20. All are invited to come to Saw Ye Thiha’s home for a funeral rite.”

Saw Ye Thiha was a young and active Catholic teacher and a member of the Education Team in the parish. He grew up under the care of his grandparents, Aunties, nuns, and priests because his biological parents were in divorce.

He was very active in social and religious affairs, and supportive of the Church as well. In addition, he planned to donate his house where he lived alone to a Religious Community according to his close friend.  

“It is a great loss for the Church,” remarked the priests who are familiar with Saw Ye Thiha.

Saw Ye Thiha struggled alone for his living and owned a brick house. He was a CDM teacher who resigned from his profession due to the military coup in the country.

According to locals, the educator Saw Ye Thiha was killed by his former student who visited him with a friend who did not even know the teacher’s name. The reason for the killing was that the amount of money wanted was not paid. He died at the hospital in his hometown. The young murderers were arrested immediately after the incident.

His dead body was buried in the cemetery of the Maryland parish after the funeral Mass held at 10 in the morning on October 20.

News-Raymond Mahn Kyaw