Locals want the Military Council troops stationed in the Kyauktaw Mahamunni Pagoda premises to leave because the pilgrims do not dare to go there due to their presence

Narinjara News, December 11, 2022

The Junta continues to station its troops inside the Mahamunni Pagoda compound in Kyauktaw township, an iconic pilgrimage site deeply revered by the Rakhine people, in spite of the ceasefire truce between Tatmadaw and the Arakan Army (AA) in the Rakhine state.

Residents want the regime forces stationed in the Mahamunni Pagoda as soon as possible, because the military occupation has scared pilgrims away from visiting this sacred site.

A local elder in a village near the pagoda said, "In December (Nattaw month according to the Rakhine calendar), many pilgrims usually come. Now the fighting has stopped, but people still do not dare to visit the pagoda. They are worried that the soldiers would check their phones, or conduct other inspections. We want the Military Council troops to be moved to another place, only then people can go to the Mahamunni Pagoda with peace of mind”.

After informally agreeing to a ceasefire with the AA on November 26th, the Military Council reopened some of the blocked roads and waterways in Rakhine. But their troops continue to deploy and take up positions in the Kyauktaw Mahamunni Pagoda premises.

A trustee of the Pagoda said, “ After the ceasefire, the number of pilgrims has increased a little. But they are mostly people from nearby areas. It’s very different from last year. Last year it was very crowded”.

Although the fighting in Rakhine State has stopped, the with soldiers are still active everywhere, the public does not feel safe and economic problems also adds to their woes.

“ Even though the ceasefire came into effect, the regime’s soldiers are seen everywhere. They continue to camp in famous pagodas including Mahamunni, so people are still suffering anguish and fear.In general people have almost stopped going to the pagodas. Vendors in the pagodas are also struggling to make a living”, a Kyauktaw resident told Narinjara.

Currently there is a temporary ceasefire in Rakhine, but the Military Council has set up checkpoints along the roads and tightened inspections.  

“The Military Council should have withdrawn the deployment in religious areas under the pretext of security. Currently it is a period of ceasefire. There are many other places where they can camp. They should no longer take up positions in the pagoda premises to cause people panic”, the Kyauktaw resident also added.