NarinjaraNews, March 21, 2023

A whistleblower who does not want to be named has reported that an army Majorfrom the Military Council has unlawfully confiscated and sold around 7 tons ofiron materials meant for the construction of an ordination hall at the Nwa YoanTaung village pagoda in the San Go Taung village tract of Buthidaung township.

The whistleblower has also urged the relevant authorities to investigate thematter and take appropriate action against the Major for his allegedmisconduct.

According to sources, Major Aung Moe Thu, along with some soldiers under hiscommand from the Military Council in Nwa Yoan Taung, allegedly took possessionof approximately 7 tons of iron materials that the villagers had purchased andgathered since 2019 for the construction of an ordination hall at the localvillage pagoda. The materials were reportedly stacked up on the east road ofthe Htate Htoo Pauk camp, witnesses said.

“These iron materials were found piled up near their camp, and it has beenreported that these materials have already been sold. It is concerning thatthey have not only confiscated villagers' property but also items intended forreligious purposes without hesitation. I urge the appropriate higher officialsto investigate this matter and take prompt action to resolve it”, the unnamedvillager told Narinjara.

He added that he had heard about the iron materials beingsold to a businessman in Buthidaung for 1.5-million kyat per ton.

On March 18th, the Delta News Agency (DNA) reported that a donor in Yangon hadsent iron materials imported from abroad to construct an ordination hall in avillage, before locals were forced to flee due to the ongoing war. Then, theMilitary Council troops stationed near the village stole the iron materials andtransported them using three-wheeled tuk tuks. According to DNA, witnesses alsoclaimed that the soldiers sold each ton of stolen iron to a buyer for 1.5million kyat.

Since 2019, the intense conflict between the Arakan Army(AA) and the Military Council has resulted in the displacement of the Nwa YoanTaung villagers from their homes. They were forced to flee to Zay Di Pyinvillage, located in Rathedaung Township.

 As the Military Council is still stationed in the village,locals remain hesitant to return to their homes and continue to live asdisplaced people.