Senior monks send letter of request to troops at historian pagoda hill

By Khaing Roe La 28 Mar 2019

Khaing Roe La/ DMG

March 26, Sittwe

Senior monks form a township monk committee have requested Rakhine State chief minister and commander of the western command to halt the positioning of military forces at a hill in Kyauktaw town.

The monks sent a letter dated March 23 to top leaders in Rakhine State to stop the positioning of military troops on Kyauktaw hill of Thay Lar Giri Mawla Pabata, where a historical pagoda is located.

They asked for authorities to cease military activities on the hill because war conflicts should not be at religious and cultural sites, a senior monk said.

Chair of Kyauktaw Township Sangha Nayaka committee told the DMG that he was concerned about new attacks at religious buildings and worried that people will be in trouble when positioned troops do the same as in Mrauk-U.

“Kyauktaw hill is a religious site. When military troops have been positioned on the hill, pilgrims and local devotees do not visit the pagoda. And, it is close to the town,” said Sayardaw Badhanta Thaw Bana.

Tatmadaw troops have been positioned at Nyaung Pin Hla stairways, Lyaung Daw Mu Pagoda’s ordination hall and the visitors’ hall at the hill.

The DMG could not reach Colonel Win Zaw Oo, commander of the Western Command, to seek comment of the Tatmadaw over the request letter.

Historical pagodas and temples were destroyed following gunfire at the cultural heritage site in Mrauk-U town on March 18.