Military presence at ancient pagoda in Buthidaung Twsp hinders repair work: local abbot

By DMG 15 Oct 2021

DMG Newsroom
15 October 2021, Buthidaung 

An ancient pagoda in San Ko Taung village, Buthidaung Township, was reportedly damaged during fighting between the Myanmar military and Arakan Army (AA) from 2018-2020, with local villagers and religious leaders saying the military is currently stationed at the pagoda, making repairs difficult. 

The military, aka Tatmadaw, has been stationed at the 31 Common Pagoda since 2019 and remains there, said U Nayaka, the abbot of Shwe Kyin Monastery in Buthidaung Township. 

“I am worried that all the religious buildings will be destroyed in the long run due to lack of donors. As the soldiers are stationed at the pagoda, the villagers did not dare to stay in the village and fled. Who will repair the damaged Buddha statues as the people do not dare to stay in the village? As long as there are soldiers there, the pagodas will never be repaired,” the abbot said. 

He added that he had repeatedly written to the Arakan State legislature and government in 2020, asking for the withdrawal of the military presence at 31 Common Pagoda, but did not receive a response. 

Residents of about 10 villages in the area fled their homes after a heavy artillery shell exploded at Si Taung village in Buthidaung Township in March 2019, according to U Aung Thaung Shwe, a former Arakan State lawmaker for Buthidaung Township. 

“It is impossible for locals to repair damaged pagodas and religious buildings for the time being,” the ex-legislator said. 

Those displaced by the Tatmadaw shelling still live in nearby villages and camps for internally displaced people (IDPs). 

U Maung Thein Hla from Tharsi village, Buthidaung Township, demanded the immediate withdrawal of the Myanmar military. 

“I also want the Burmese soldiers there to leave as soon as possible. I would also like to demand that the locals be allowed to visit the pagoda and take Sabbath during the Thadingyut festival,” he added. 

Tatmadaw troops are stationed at historical pagodas in Mrauk-U, Minbya and Buthidaung townships, locals say. 

The military’s deployments at the sites of these ancient religious buildings, temples and pagodas is a clear violation of the Geneva Conventions, according to U Khaing Thukha, spokesman for the United League of Arakan/Arakan Army (ULA/AA).