Narinjara News, November 3, 2022

TheMilitary Council troops, who deployed and took cover in the historic Mahamuni BuddhaImage compound in Kyauktaw Township in Rakhine State, confiscated and checkedthe phones of about 30 masons who are assigned to carry out renovations there.

Aspart of their stepped-up surveillance the military regime’s troops grabbed theall the phones of the masonry workers on the morning ofNovember 3. After checks were made, the phones were returned to the owners ataround 1:00 PM after the inspections were done according to a local.

“ The masons were very worried when their phones wereconfiscated. Three or four hours later, afterchecks were done, the phones were returned. This means that they(the Military Council troops) suspect the masons”, a pilgrim commented.

Dueto the presence of Junta forces and their camp inside the temple’s precincts, fewpilgrims visit Mahamuni Buddha Image nowadays. The mason workers are also worriedabout their security.

“These days the soldiers have become very aggressive and strict,” an elderly pilgrimsaid.

”Even though the masons had been working in the temple complex for years,the Junta soldiers were still suspicious.” Locals also complained that “The MilitaryCouncil soldiers stationed in the temple compound often get drunk and shootinto the air at night”.

Aresident added that “Even for pilgrims, it is not convenient anymore bringingtheir phones. When they see we bring our phones, they checkfor any links to the Arakan Army (AA).Nowpeople are afraid to even bring the phone. “

TheKyauktaw Township is an area where military tensions between the AA and the MilitaryCouncil are getting worse and worse. Recently the Kyauktaw-based Military Councilbattalions fired artillery shells into residentialareas even though there was no militaryengagement. On the night of October 31, an artillery shell hit a house and killedthree family members who were sleeping.