Tatmadaw repudiates accusation of soldiers presence on pagoda

06 Aug 2019

Khaing Roe La | DMG

6 August, Sittwe

A military troop has been positioned in the precinct by the ancient pagoda Kyauktaw Mahamyatmuni in Arakan State, Kyauktaw Township Sangha Nayaka Committee said.

Some police have previously been positioned in the compound of the pagoda for security, the Tatmadaw troop has been there about a month, said Sayardaw Bhaddanta Thaw Pa Na, chair of Kyauktaw Township Sangha Nayaka Committee.

More than 200 soldiers are staying in the buildings for monks and the dining-room in the compound of the pagoda, the Sayardaw said.

Colonel Win Zaw Oo, head of the Western Command, however, denied the Sayardaw’s claim and said that soldiers might clean the pagoda because they were Buddhists.

“(Military troops) do not stay in the pagoda. They might visit the pagoda to cleanse the holy area as Buddhist people,” he said.

Currently, officials of the pagoda and the township Sangha Nayaka Committee sent a letter to a respective regional executive officer on 5 August concerning the presence of the soldiers in the area of the pagoda.

“We sent a request letter to No.9 Executive officer in Kyauktaw town to end the presence of soldiers in the pagoda,” the Sayardaw said.

The Sayardaw added that visitors, those who observe the eight Buddhist precepts and donors were reluctant to visit the pagoda because soldiers have been positioned there.

Military troops have been positioned on Mt. Kyane in Minbya town, a historical place in Arakan State, and fired artillery into the Phone Tha Chuang region to assist the troops fighting with the AA, said U Hla Thein Aung, Arakan State MP for Minbya Township.

He added that shooting weapons from a historical landmark is an unacceptable act.

 “We denounce the act of firing weapons from Mt.Kyein Taung because it could lead to the destruction of ancient artifacts due to the aftershocks heavy artillery produces ,” he said.

The fighting between the Tatmadaw and the AA has been going on for months now, some ancient pagodas in Mrauk-U and Buthidaung Township were destroyed during the ongoing clashes.