Complainants Against Railroad Examined by Authority

Mrauk U: Two individuals were interrogated by the Burmese military authority after they complained about the destruction of several cultural heritage sites in Mrauk U to clear space for railroad construction.

U Kyaw Tun Aung, a former chief of the archaeology department in Mrauk U and an abbot of Aung Mingalar Monastery were interrogated about their complaints on 23 November by Sittwe District Chairman Major Moe Zaw Soe, at the Aung Mingalar Monastery in Mrauk U.

An educated youth from Mrauk U said, "After many cultural heritage sites were destroyed by bulldozers for railroad construction, townspeople, led by several abbots and including the archaeology department, submitted an appeal to high authorities. Because of this complaint, the authority interrogated two leaders about the protest."

Moreover, the Sittwe District chairman has warned U Kyaw Tun Aung not to complain in the future using this approach, as U Kyaw Tun Aung is a former government officer.

A high power team from Naypyidaw led by U Kyaw Oo Lwin, director of the archaeology department, came to Mruak U on the 20th to inspect the railroad track after the protest and complaints.

"The high power team decided to divert the next railroad track from the construction, but party of the railroad already constructed will not be changed, even though there are many historic cultural sites there," the youth said.

Many cultural heritage sites have been destroyed to make way for construction of a railroad through a major archaeological zone in Mrauk U, an ancient city in western Burma's Arakan State.

A local archaeologist told Narinjara that the construction of the railroad through the city started on 7 November, and many ancient structures built by 15th century Arakanese cultures have already been damaged.

The structures that have already been destroyed include pagodas and sculptures on Thazintan Hills, Praysoe Gree Pagoda, Mungalar Wall, Khrunkite Wall, Ahmrunt Tuang Fortress, Khrunkite Fortress, Rae Hla Fortress, Ra Hla Gate, Rae Hla Moat, and Kyein Rwa Moat, the source said.

Koethaung Temple, one of the largest and most famous structures in the northeast of the city, is also facing demolition as the railroad will cross near the temple, according to city residents.

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