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  • The Historic “Lin-Zin-Kone “ Myanmar-Muslim Cemetery dating back more than 200 years ordered to demolish

    MMSY News

    Photo news and interview by Thuta Maung

    Lin-Zin-Kone Cemetery, the historic Myanmar-Muslim Cemetery dating back more than 200 years, situated in O-Daw Quarter, Amarapura, Mandalay, has been ordered to demolish before 1.7.2012, mentioned in the Mandalay Daily Newspaper on June the 1st to the 3rd. Regarding this, a visit to the cemetery was made, and the locals and persons in-charge there were interviewed.

    The announcement from “Mandalay Daily” Newspaper [Volume (15), No. (182), 1.6.2012] 

    Q: I want to ask some questions about the Lin-Zin-Kone Cemetery and the Durgah (The Shrine of the Muslim Saint (Wali) Abid Shah Husainni). Could you please explain a little about them?

    A: We are in-charge for the Durgah, and the other young men take care of the cemetery.

    Q: Rumors has it that the cemetery will be demolished soon. The newspaper said it would be terminated, but there has been hearsay about its extirpation. Have you had any updated news regarding that? 

    A: As this is a very historic place, we have appealed to the President, also signed by five Official Islamic organizations. As a result, the plan to demolish it is stalled for the time being.

    Q: Could you please tell us the history this cemetery? 

    A: This place became a Kabar Stan (the Muslim Cemetery) because people who admire the Muslim Saint (Wali) Abid Shah Husainni have been burying their relatives here. Indeed the actually-located Muslim cemetery is on the other side of the street, beyond the wall. There used to be some buildings there. But during the Military Regime, that area was transferred to the Christians, and the Zagawa (the name of a type of flower Michelia champaca) Garden here was regarded as Muslim Cemetery. Actually, not even the whole garden is for the Muslims, only up to the graveyards of (The founder and donor of Basic Education High School 1) U E-Ko Ko Gyi’s wife Daw Daw Yan. The other part is for the Buddhists.

    Tomb of Sayargyi U Nu 

     

    Tombs of Saint Abid Shah and Ponna Wun 

     

     

    Tomb of U Pein, the person who orgainsed building the world’s famous U Pein Bridge 

     


    The Warrior U Yan Aung’s tomb (The stone pillar monument was made of Myanmar Traditional stone carvings and Traditional Myanmar Clay Bricks were used) 

     

    Husainnu Masjid (Located in Zagawar Garden Premises) 

     

    The Monument stone pillar of the Biography of Saint Abid Shah 

    Q: So, the area till the brick wall belongs to the Muslim cemetery, right? 

    A: Yes, while we were fencing compound, it was called a halt, so the fence isn’t complete yet, actually only little is left, but we can’t continue because of the deterrent.

    Q: Then anyway, the Muslim cemetery is said to be till that wall. What about the other side of the wall? Does it belong to the Christians?  

    A: There is a lane on the other side, and then, there are cemeteries for the Christians, the Chinese, and others. Actually, the area for the Muslim Cemetery was given to the Christians, and the garden land has been regarded as Muslim Cemetery. We Muslims have also been burying here, so this area is no longer seen as Durgah but as cemetery. Such a change happened during the Military Regime, and we couldn’t say anything against this.

    Q: So, did this place exist long before as the Zagawa Garden? How is it so named and how has it become existed?

    A: Yes, this has been actually a garden since Bo Daw Phaya (King Badon), while The Saint Abid Shah was meditating here on this land with Zagawa Flowers and trees, the Ponna Wun (Officer in-charge of the Brahmins) bought the land and donated it to The Saint. He was so pleased with the garden and said “I want to be buried here under the Zagawa tree when I die”. So the Ponna Wun, who was one of his disciples, make this land Waqf (donated the place for a special purpose) for the Saint, and his body was buried there as his will. It is believed in Islam that the place around the Saints is overwhelmed with (God’s) Allah’s mercy all the time. As people want to have that privilege, this place gradually became a cemetery as well, not purposely.

    Q: What is the size of this area, both the Durgah and the cemetery?

    A: The land that belongs to the Durgah is over 3 acres, and that for cemetery is 3 acres, so more than 6 acres in total.

    Q: This Lin-Zin-Kone Cemetery is regarded as the historic place, isn’t it?

    A: Yes, the Saint Abid Shah Husainni was a famous person. The King Bo Daw Min Tayar Gyi (King Badon) himself appointed him as the Chief Leader (Kazi – the prime judge) for Myanmar Muslims. And then Sayargyi U Nu was also buried here. He was also a very famous person, who wrote books on Islam in Myanmar Language, including one book exclusively written for the King. He also successfully accomplished what the King assigned him, and as a result was appointed as the Mayor of Ramayadi Town (in Rakhine State).

    Q: Are there any other famous people buried here?

    A: The Saint Abid Shah Husainni, Sayargyi U Nu, and then U Pein, the person who orgainsed building U Pein Bridge, the Mayor Bhai Sab, the Warrior U Yan Aung, and the Ponna Wun, and the like.

    Q: So, tomb next to the Saint Abid Shah belongs to Ponna Wun, right? Is there any other famous people?

    A: The one with official records are those, and there is tomb of U E-Ko Ko Gyi.

    Q: Could you please tell us who U E-Ko Ko Gyi is?

    A: He was the founder of Amarapura Basic Education High School, the one who sacrificed a lot for the school.

    Q: Which one is Amarapura Basic Education High School? Is it the school nearby? Was he the founder of that school?

    A: Yes, Amarapura No (1) BEHS. It is written on the monument stone pillar of the School’s Golden Jubilee as well.  Once, Sayargyi U Htun founded Islamia National School in Mandalay. And then, when E U Ko Ko Gyi founded that school, it was first named National School. Later on, it was changed into Amarapura Basic Education High School. Now its name has become No.(1) BEHS, as there is No. (2) BEHS in Myit Nge.

    Q: All right, let’s get back to the previous question. So, a letter of appeal has been sent to the President, right?

    A: Not directly to the President yet. Only the copy of the letters sent to the Prime Minister and the other offices and ministries have been sent to the President. A letter to the President has been prepared, where almost 3000 people has signed in, requesting the President not to demolish such a historic place. Only as the last stage, we will be sending this letter to the President.

    Q: So, you mean the letter hasn’t reached the Present yet, but it has reached to the minister, is that the Minister of Religious Affairs?

    A: Both to the Minister of Religious Affairs and the Prime Minister of Mandalay Division.

    Q: What did they reply responding your letters? Was the plan just halted without any reply?

    A: For the time being, nothing has been done, demolishing hasn’t started. We were just told not to do anything right now. The five official Islamic organizations have also requested not to clear off that land, mentioning this area shouldn’t be demolished in these situations, the historic values of this area, and it is not allowed in Islam to demolish the cemeteries.

    Q: So the authorities said not to do anything, and not to worry, they wouldn’t start to demolish it. Did they reply that in an official letter or just a verbal promise?

    A: It was mentioned just verbally.

    Q: Who said that then, the Minister of Religious Affairs or the Prime Minister of Mandalay Division?

    A: The Minister of Religious Affairs of Mandalay Division U Than Soe Myint said that, and the Prime Minister of Mandalay Division is U Ye Myint.

    The Durgah Daw (Tomb) of the Saint Abid Shah Husainni, the king’s appointed Leader of Muslims of Myanmar during the King Along Phayar (King Badon)
    During the Crisis in 1997, the tomb was set to fire, and the renovation thereafter was also forced to discontinue

     

    Q: As far as I know, the Durgah was also destroyed during the conflict in 1997. After that the renovation started, and then, why has it stopped before it was completely renovated? Were you not allowed to?

    A: Yes, the permission to renovate this has been halted. After 1997 conflict, it was allowed to renovate, and it has been partially done as you can see at present, later on, it was ceased before it was complete, while the previous commander of Mandalay division was in-charge. We tried to have a chance to meet him and request him to let it continue, but we couldn’t as he refused to. When we applied for the renovation, the military government then permitted that with an official letter, but when we were ordered to stop renovating, it was only the Verbal Order, no written document at all. Now in the present government’s regime, Mandalay City and Development council just said not to do anything, but nothing was officially ordered from the authorities.

    Q: So, can we say there has been no official order for discontinuation of renovation? 

    A: Yes, no officially written order, only verbal orders. But things might have caused worse if we hadn’t stopped, so we had to. But we are trying our best for that. As there is hope for better democracy here, things will be better we hope.

    Q: Now, as we cannot bury here anymore, how are you arranging for that? 

    A: People from Amarapura have to go through four townships up to Kyar Ni Kan Cemetery. Normally, it is not allowed to carry a corpse through the townships, but now we have to pass through four townships, sometimes when it coincides with the VIP’s special route, we have to go through even five townships.

    Q: It means that the corpses are carried from Amarapura the Southernmost to Kyar Ni Kan the Northernmost of Mandalay.  

    A: Exactly. Even for the car rental fee, it costs about 45,000 kyats to 50,000 kyats per car.

    Q: May I ask you one thing? There are several monasteries around this Amarapura Lin-Zin-Kone Cemetery. How is the relationship with the monks there?

    A: Yes, there are monasteries all around here. Sayardaw U Janakka Thara Biwonsa, the fonder and head monk of Mahar Gandaryone Monastery, has been very close to Khalifah U Maung Maung Gyi, the Leader of KAFTG Gharana Family. And also, Sayardaw U Pyinnyar Zawta (Ko Pyinnyar_Amarapura) from Taung Lay Lone Monastery even mentioned about Durgah in his book. Monks from the monasteries around here have a very good understanding towards us. We are also getting along well with them. Sometimes, we even offer food to our close monks. People with all creeds in Amarapura have mutual respect and understanding towards each other.

    Q: My last question: You said in Amarapura, people from different religions show mutual respect and understanding, but how come the Durgah was set fire to, during 1997 conflict? What do you say about that?

    Well, we could say in confidence that it wasn’t done by the monks nearby. The elder high-ranked monks here have a complete control over the younger ones from their monasteries. So, they were not from nearby monasteries.

    Q: Thank you very much for your time. Last month we came to know that this Lin-Zin-Kone Cemetery would be demolished. So we come here today, even if it would be cleared off (May Allah forbid that), there could be something recorded left as historic proof or evidence. And we assume that most of the young people do not know about this historic place, and we wanted to make them aware of these sentimental values.

    A: We are also glad to tell you about this. Here is a book on the biography of the Saint Abid Shah Husainni. You can learn the details about the Durgah.

     

    Sayar U Pyinnyar Zawta ( pseudonym : Ko Pyinnyar_Amarapura) mentioned about “The Durgah Daw” in his book named “The Historic Places around Taung Thaman” (Appendix) Pg. 75 & 76, 1st Edition, 1996, and that was translated by Late renowned History Professor Dr. Than Tun as below.

    “THE DARAGA DAW”

    Arbhisha Hussaini’s tomb is commonly called the Daraga Daw. (Durgah is Persian meaning a royal court; with an extended meaning in India it is used to mean a shrine of a Mohammedian saint for prayer.) It is located on the north of Mezabin (Madhuca longifolia) avenue, west of “Red Pagoda” (Shwe Mutthaw Thein Hpaya), east of the wards called O-daw (Royal Potters) and Hmite Su (People engaed in reclaiming gold dust from the refuses collected from pagoda precincts and goldsmith’s workshop) and in the Lin Zin Gon cemetery.

    Arbhisha Hussaini was born 1776 and came at the age of nineteen to Amarapura in 1795. He died at the age of only thirty nine in 1815 after serving the king as the leader of the Islamic people for twenty years.

    He had written thirty books on Mohaedanism. At a funeral of a female devotee or Moree he came to sit under a Zagawa (Michelia champaca) tree and as he was so pleased with that place in the garden he said:

    “I wish I would be buried here”. Surely his wish was fulfilled and a Durgah was built in his memory at his tomb under the Zagawa tree that he had chosen.

    The Ponna Wun (Officer – in – Charge of Brahmins) bought the gardenand gave it to him before he died.

    Credit : “The Biography of Hazarat Sayyid Khwaja Hafiz Muhammed Sharif Abid Shah Husainni” published by The Durgah Daw Trustee Committee, Page 34, 34, 36.

  • Interview With Rohingyas on the Arakan Conflict

    4 July 2012 3:00PM MMT

    MMSY News

    Yangon – On June 28, MMSY interviewed three Rohingyas whose families live in Sittwe, Western Myanmar. We learned that both Rakhines and Rohingyas suffer from beatings, murders and lost of properties. We also learned that the government’s arresting educated Rohingyas and cutting communication channels have hidden information about Rohingyas’ real suffering.

    For security reasons, we have omitted the interviewees’ names as well as locations and names they mentioned.

    MMSY: Where do your sisters’ families live?

    Person A: They live in a rural area 50 kilometers away from Sittwe.

    MMSY: Where? Did you mention Nazi Village?

    Person A: Yes, I’m from Nazi Village and all my sisters are also from Nazi village.

    MMSY: I see. We learned that Nazi village mobbed. When was it?

    Person A: On 13th.  On June 13th and 14th, they torched our quarter for two days.

    MMSY: Who burnt your village? Na Sa Ka?

    Person A: There is no Na Sa Ka (Border guards) in Sittwe. Na Sa Ka are only in Maungdaw and Buthidaung.

    MMSY: I see.

    Person A: Maungdaw and Buthidaung are 300 – 350 kilometers away from Sittwe and can only be travelled by boat or ship for about 7 hours. There is no bus/car route to Maungdaw and Buthidaung from Sittwe.

    MMSY: So who burnt Nazi village?

    Person A: Buddhist Rakhine people and Lone Htein (police).

    MMSY: Did your sisters tell you how many people burnt your village and how?

    Person A: At first, Buddhist Rakine people came to burn the mosque called Maracas Mosque. So our villagers tried to protect the mosque. At that time Lone Htein (police) came and shot our villagers. Five villagers died on the spot. Buddhist Rakine people entered the mosque from the back and burnt the mosque.

    MMSY: After that?

    Person A: Other villagers were coming to the mosque to try to save the villagers trapped inside the mosque. They were also shot by Lone Htein (police) near the mosque. At least ten more villagers died there.

    MMSY: Do you know the dead people?

    Person A: I don’t know them exactly but I heard the Buddhist Rakhine people who burnt the village are Dr. Aye Maung’s people. Dr. Aye Maung is the leader of Rakhine Nationalities Development Party (RNDP). He is originally from Bangladesh. He moved here 50 years ago. His parents are Bangladeshi Buddhists.

    MMSY: Do you know Dr. Aye Maung personally?

    Person A: I don’t know him. My relatives and my brother know him.

    MMSY: Were any of your relatives killed or arrested?

    Person A: No, not my relatives. But a lot of people from our quarter were killed. On the first day, 13 people were killed from our quarter. I don’t know how many people were killed on the second day.

    MMSY: Anyone arrested?

    Person A: No. No one was arrested but a lot are missing. Almost 1250 people are missing from our village.

    MMSY: Where did you get this news from?

    Person A: I got this news from my relatives, my brother, and sisters.

    MMSY: How about your relatives, Ko xxx (Person B)?

    Person B: Some of my relatives were arrested. My first cousin. She is my uncle’s daughter. Her name is (xxx). And then the other one is a medical doctor, (xxx). He is a good doctor and brother-in-law of my elder brother. One of my friends, his name is xxx was also arrested. Xxx is a private tutor.

    Also, Daw Mya Nandar Aung and her husband were arrested in Yangon. Daw Mya Nandar Aung‘s husband used to be my classmate. Daw Mya Nandar Aung’s mom is Karan ethnic. Her father is a Rohingya.

    At first the couple were questioned at the airport during their trip to Yangon because they were suspects. And then I heard they were arrested and charged with the Electronic Act at Minglar Taung Nyunt Township Police Station. A lawyer said they will be sentenced to 15 years in jail if they are found guilty.

    My niece told me on the phone that many people were arrested. I could only name a few I know personally. I don’t know the names of the rest.

    If you want to provide food for one person in jail, you have to pay 5,000 kyats to police. If you don’t pay money, police won’t allow you to deliver food to those arrested. Prisoners are not provided food in prison either. I heard some prominent people were moved to Sittwe prison.

    Person C: In Buthidaung, all the people who owned computers were arrested. Those people were charged with the electronic act so that the government can prevent the spreading of the news to the outside world.

    MMSY: We only get information that Rohingyas are suffering because of the riot. But there is no proof or any picture to see. Also we saw only a video footage. Is there any Rohingya who could take pictures and send messages in Arakan State?

    Person B: No one can send a message because it is hard to get communication from the region.

    Person A: It is impossible to send messages from Sittwe. There is no Internet service on mobiles. Also Muslims are not allowed to use the Internet. There are a few people who can use the Internet in Buthidaung and Maungdaw. Most of the information is sent from there.

    Person B: One obvious thing is the fact that the Myanmar government doesn’t allow any international independent observer or monitor to investigate the problem. If the government is doing the right thing, why don’t they allow anyone to investigate? The only reason is that they want to cover up the truth.

    MMSY: Why can’t Muslims use the Internet in Sittwe?

    Person A: Muslims are not allowed to use the Internet at Internet cafes. There are three Internet cafes in Sittwe but they don’t allow Kalars to use [computers]. My family has a laptop but no Internet. No one knows about our computer. It is impossible to let anyone know. Otherwise, my family will be in trouble.

    Person C: A few Rohingyas who look like Rakhines and speak Rakhine language as Rakhines could use Internet. But they are on the run and they don’t even have a place to stay. My aunt’s family, all family members are educated. They can speak Rakhine language fluently. Now they don’t have a place to live. Their house was burnt down. So they went to xxx village. And then they were forced to move to outside Sittwe by armed forces truck.

    Person A: I know their relatives. Are they from xxx, aren’t they?

    Person C: Yes

    Person A: Some people from that village stay at one of my relatives’ place. My relative has a warehouse. They stay there. There are 500 people staying there.

    MMSY:  How large is the warehouse?

    Person A: Large. Pretty large, approximately 300 feet.

    MMSY: All 500 are staying there?

    Person A: Yes, all 500 people are staying there.

    MMSY: Do you know the name of the Internet cafes from Sittwe?

    Person A: I don’t know exactly.

    Person C: Before, Rohingyas and Rakhines cannot be distinguished, also the way they look. But when problems started, they both stay separately.

    MMSY: Is there anyone who entered from Bangladesh to get news?

    Person C: No. No one could.

    Person B: I heard that the border is closed.

    Person C: If you want to pass the border, you are not allowed to go beyond four miles from the border. You are not allowed to go to the villages and you can only stay in town. You are allowed only a one- week stay. As soon as you pass the border gate, an official follows you. He will record all of your movements — where you went and with whom did you talk. That was my personal experience.

    When you arrive at Maungdaw border gate from Taknaf, someone follows you.  Wherever you go, you will be followed. So it is impossible to try to get information. You are not allowed to stay at anyone’s house. You have to stay at a guest house. There are two guest houses in Maungdaw: United and the other one.  I forgot the name. I think United Guest House was already burnt down. The other thing is that no one dares to go out the place under Curfew and riot.

    MMSY: Have you asked anyone from Sittwe why they could not send any pictures?

    Person C: They are trying to survive themselves and to hide. How could they take pictures? Whenever I call my relatives, the first thing I hear on the phone is crying. Some — those who are able to talk well — could give me information. Before they talked to me, they asked if they could safely talk. They are afraid.

    MMSY: So they can’t go out for food or other stuff either. If they all stay at home, do they have food?

    Person C: No, they don’t have [food or other stuff]. My Aunt’s family has many Rakhine friends. No one helps them get food. When they asked someone for help, he said he could not help them and RNDP ordered Rakhines not to help Muslims. But they could get some food from soldiers.

    MMSY:  Does that mean the soldiers send food for them and they don’t need to go out?

    Person A: But they have to pay more than 2 – 3 times the original prices.

    MMSY: So no one could go out?

    Person A: No, not at all.

    Person C: A child went out to buy food. They thought the child would not be killed. But he was killed.

    Person A: A child was shot last Saturday.

    MMSY: How old was he?

    Person C: 12 years old.

    MMSY: How much do they have to pay the soldiers for food?

    Person A: A couple of household members asked a soldier to buy food and paid the soldier 3000 to 4000 kyats.

    Person B: To deliver food for arrested people, you have to pay 5,000 kyat to authorities as delivery fee. .

    <End>

  • Arakan Conflict: The Rates of Death and Displacement Can Be Much Higher

    June 26, 2012 at 5:30 am MMT
    MMSY News

    Photo-AFP

     

    Yangon – The Arakan conflict in western Burma might have taken many more lives than the official report of 50 plus deaths.  According to sources from Arakan state, more Rohingyas have been killed, but an exact number of deaths and displaced people is difficult to obtain as the government has barred journalists and relief organizations from visiting various places.

    According to a letter submitted to a Member of Parliament U Shwe Maung by a Muslim community representative from the town of Sittwe, 159 Rohingyas were killed and 1,240 people are missing. The list that accounts for the Sittwe area from June 9 to 18 shows that 800 people have been injured (bullet and knife wounds). The list also shows that 94,613 Rohingya minority people have been displaced.

    An email exchange between Rohingya activists in Thailand and Europe indicates, however, that the actual numbers are much higher.

    A freelance reporter, who remains to be anonymous, predicts that Rohingya people in places where journalists are denied access to might be facing severe treatments including extra judicial killings and forced relocation.

    Information shows that Border Administration Force (or Na Sa Ka) and security police have been raiding the homes of the Rohingyas, randomly shooting people, and secretly disposing bodies.

    A Rohingya youth in Germany told MMSY News that he lost three relatives in Sittwe and that one is still missing. He added that Muslims’ homes are being bulldozed in the town of Sittwe.

    Mg Win, a Rohingya migrant worker in Bangkok whose family lives in Sittwe, said, “People have been taken away, but they were not told where they have been taken to”.

    The Burmese media, especially the domestic Burmese language journals, including Weekly Eleven, the Voice, and 7Days News have been reporting that Rohingyas are burning down their own homes.

    Mg Win complaints, however, that the media reports are not accurate as houses are being burnt down by ethnic Rakhines and authorities.

    Win Than, a migrant woman in Bangkok, agrees with Mg Win. She said her house in Sittwe was burnt down, and her family has been living in her grandparents’ village. She added that Na Sa Ka and security police are forcing Rohingyas to sign that they burnt down their own homes.

    Although the scene in Sittwe seems calm presently, widespread but silent killing and house burning are still happening in various places. Rohingyas are specifically targeted by the authorities. “Even in Sittwe, Muslims (not just ethnic Rohingyas) are being forced out of their homes,” said Win Than.

    Families who lost their family registration papers due to fire are being arrested. Burmese authorities are charging them with illegal entry without carefully examining whether they are residents or illegal immigrants.

    Rohingya women have been targeted for rape as well. On June 15th, Na Sa Ka and security police located in the Maungdaw township raped five women between the ages of 14 and 35.

    During the climax of the conflict, entire Rohingya villages were burnt down by Na Sa Ka. People were killed in their own homes; they could not  leave due to Curfew. The bodies were transported by military trucks.

    When sources were asked why the Rohingya side is still not able to provide photos or evidence of killing and burning experienced by the Rohingya, the sources said that it is difficult for Rohingyas to get photos. Many are still hiding in their houses as they have been shot as soon as they step outside their homes. Taking photos of the incidents and/or communicating information to outside world is virtually impossible.

    Meanwhile, journalists and relief organizations are not allowed to freely collect information in Arakan state. The actual extent of killing, displacement, and injuries (estimated to be at a higher rate than previously disclosed) will continue to be unknown to the public.

    On June 22nd, the United Nation High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) warned the public that the Arakan state could face “severe humanitarian crisis” due to the conflict.

  • The lentil storehouses, owned by Burmese Muslims, had been set fire

    June 19, 2012

    On yesterday, 12.30am, the lentil storehouses had been set fire in Ta Zaung Yoe village which is located in between two well-known towns, Yekyi and Athote, in Ayeyarwaddy division. Arson was allegedly started by four stranger Buddhist monks and which completely destroyed a storehouse and a motorbike possessed by a Muslim business man, U Hanif.

    Fire crews from Yekyi and Athote fought the arson successfully within an hour with the help of surrounding residences.

    Storehouse guard had tried to persuade the perpetrators. “Those four monks are not from my town. They are new faces as I know almost all the monks from surrounding area. After they’d set up fire, left on a truck. I couldn’t have a scene to its license plate because of darkness”, he told to myanmarmuslim.net on phone.

    There have been reported about the state governor who personally came and inspected the situation on today’s morning.

    According to the residences, it is noted that there have been Buddhists and ruly Muslims stay together peacefully for a long time in the area of Nga Thahine Gyaung, Yekyi and Athote.

    This is the second incident happened against the Burmese Muslims after the unrest in Rakhine state.

    Translate News from http://myanmarmuslim.net/news.php?item.705.22

  • A Mosque Damaged by unknown group in Yangon

    A Mosque Damaged by unknown group in Yangon


    Waqf Jame Mosque, Koatkine Mosque in Bahan Township at Gabaaye Pagoda Road and an antique shop located next to the mosque had been damaged by an unidentified group wearing black dresses today at 2:30 in the early morning.

    It is a famous old mosque frequently visited by international diplomats from Muslim countries.

    “Around 2:30 at night, I had heard glass breaking sound. But as the sound continued, I realized that the mosque was being damaged.”, said Mr. Ebrahim who lives just behind the mosque.

    The antique shop

    The antique shop owned by Daw Aye Aye Nyein had been damaged too. At 4 am, venerable sayadaw U Pana Wuntha, renowned by his leadership during Saffron Revolution, had arrived and observed the damages. And he personally reported to myanmarmuslim.net.

    Sayadaw said, “It is the act of such group who wants the government to announce curfew in Yangon. Then it can possibly lead to seizing power again by military. It is also the act of the ones who wants the country to go back (from the democracy reforms).”

    While the mosque and shop were being attacked, U Ebrahim reported to Bahan Police Station. Just minutes after reporting, the group who damaged the mosque left in a car. The residents around the mosque also confirmed that they are in black dresses.

    Pile of broken brick pieces, used by the attackers were scattered in surrounding area of the mosque. The attacker also broke the doors of antique shop and damaged the objects inside. “It is worth up to 5 million kyats”, told by U Than Myint, elder brother of the shop owner.

    An official from the president office confirmed that news on his facebook page. But he put the status message which mentions total amount of brick pieces thrown by attackers which are about 40 in total. People reads his status message are wondering how the officials count.