Narinjara News, 11 August  2022

A group of Burmese army personnel, who are stationedat  Maha Muni temple, one of the most sacred religious places of Rakhine State, opened fire last night,which caused concern among the local people.

Talking to Narinjara News, a local residentexpressed anger that the soldiers were taking shelter in the temple premisesand they fired heavy and small arms in the night hours.

 "We do not know the reason for firing. There are no newclashes between the military personnel and Arakan Army members taking place inour area," he added.

A Kyauk Taw  resident disclosed that he heardabout 20 shots of small arms and a few shots from the large weapons from the pagodahill at  8 pm.

About 60 military personnel are now taking shelter in thetemple premise. They have also made some bunkers with sand-bags to prevent anyprobable attack from AA members.

 There is an ancient Buddha statue in the Maha Munihill and hence the people are worried about the statue. They apprehend that ifthere are clashes in the hill, the statue would be affected. The army personnelshould have avoided the temple hill.

Moreover, the country’s existing law does not permit thesoldiers to stay in religious places as well as the school and clinics. But theBurmese army always breaks the relevant laws. The locals claimed that theBurmese soldiers take hard drinks on the pagoda hill regularly and often firewithout any reason.