Mar 23, 2014
M-Media
Reported by Thuta Maung
A mosque and graves in the historic Lin Zin Gone Cemetery located in Amarapura Township, Mandalay Region were demolished by Mandalay Municipal Department, using bulldozers at 6 AM today.
“Since this morning 6 o’clock, the cemetery has been destroyed by using bulldozers. Buddhist monks also collectively ask the authorities not to tear down it as it is historic. We are doing in plan as well. However, it was demolished this morning. Tombs of Saint Arbissha Husain Ni, U Nu, the governor Bai Sap and U Pain, who constructed U Pain wooden bridge, have not been destroyed. These tombs are spared. The authorities told that a park will be constructed in the demolished place. We will attempt to get back the cemetery place,” Khalifah U Thein Win Aung, the leader of an Islamic Sufi order in Myanmar, said to M-Media.
The order to demolish the cemetery has been announced since July, 2012. Thus, Khalifah U Thein Win Aung of KAFTG Islamic Sufi order explained Union Minsters U Aung Min and U Soe Thein about the historic cemetery in an interfaith workshop in October, 2013. Also, he sent appeal letter to President U Thein Sein so as to permit to continue keeping it, and other religious buildings and tombs. He received the official reply of permission to maintain those. Nevertheless, this morning, the mosque and graves were destroyed by using bulldozers.
The government is being widely criticized for apparent abetting religious discrimination and oppression against minority communities as the case of demolishing the historic Muslim cemetery coincidentally happens during the time when the recent atrocities and violence against Myanmar Muslim Community concern the international community.
Photo( credit to Dine Khin Khin)–Bulldozers destroying the graves in the historic cemetery this morning
Related posts=>http://www.m-mediagroup.com/en/archives/tag/lin-zin-gone-muslim-cemetery
