Myanmar: military raids on places of worship deplored In the Myanmar military’s crackdown against opponents of its Feb. 1 coup, places of worship of all religious affiliations are being targeted with raids by security forces in search of protesters, alleged illegal activities or insurgents. By Robin Gomes At least four Catholic churches in villages in Myanmar's Pathein Diocese in Irrawaddy division were raided on April 8 by police and soldiers in search of alleged illegal activities or anti-coup activists. Armed security forces searched inside a Catholic church and checked around the cemetery, according to church sources. The latest targeting of Catholic churches follows military raids on other churches in Kachin state, a Christian stronghold, over the Easter weekend.