Though road repairs complete, soldiers remain along pagoda festival route

By DMG 13 Dec 2021

DMG Newsroom
13 December 2021, Pauktaw 

Soldiers and policemen remained stationed along the mountain road to Sandawshin Pagoda in Pauktaw Township, Arakan State, as of December 13, despite their road repair work being completed, locals and pilgrims said. 

A resident of nearby Soe Mae Kyi village, who asked for anonymity for security reasons, said the military had indicated that they would leave the area after the road repair work was completed. 

“Their work was completed two days ago. I think they will not leave the area,” he told DMG. 

About 100 soldiers and police arrived, ostensibly to repair the road to Sandawshin Pagoda, on December 3. 

Approximately 10 policemen left by boat on Monday morning, but the rest of the soldiers and police remain, said a resident of Soe Mae Kyi village. 

“I want them to leave here as soon as possible. If they delay one or two more days, the pagoda festival will not be crowded,” said U Aung Naing Htay, who plans to open a temporary shop to cater to Sandawshin Pagoda Festival attendees.  

“To be honest, we are going to the festival with fear of them [the military]. Our friends told us they can’t come to the festival because of the military,” he added. 

Military and police personnel have questioned people along the way to Sandawshin Pagoda in recent days, raising concerns among visitors and local residents. 

A member of the Board of Trustees of Sandawshin Pagoda said it was not clear when the military personnel would leave. 

The festival was scheduled to start on Monday, but the date was changed to December 14 for various reasons, according to the Board of Trustees. 

DMG phoned Arakan State Security and Border Affairs Minister Colonel Kyaw Thura and state regime council spokesman U Hla Thein seeking comment on when the military might withdraw from its positions along the pagoda road, but they could not be reached. 

The Sandawshin Pagoda Festival couldn’t be held in 2018 and 2019 due to armed conflict between the Tatmadaw and Arakan Army, and was held on a limited scale in 2020. 

The festival was originally scheduled to take place over eight days this year, from December 13-20. 

Pilgrims travel from townships across Arakan State to visit the pagoda festival, which has historically been one of the most well-attended events of its kind in the state.