Figure says 70 Buddhist monks offended in terror assaults
526
NP News – July 23
Commander-in-Chief of the Defense Services Senior General Min Aung Hlaing stressed that a total of 70 Buddhist monks were offended in provocative terror attacks, mostly in Sagaing and Magwe.
The Army Chief told this during the council meeting held on July 21 in Naypyidaw.
Last updated figures say a total of 53 Buddhist monks and a Buddhist nun were brutally killed; nine were injured and eight missings.
As a matter of fact, 87 percent of the population in Myanmar are Buddhists.
Sagaing, Magwe, and Mandalay regions undoubtedly are the religious centers in Myanmar where Buddha sasana is the most bloomed. Sagaing, with its hills and valleys, numerous temples, and caves dedicated to the Buddha is the best place for meditation, learning the Buddha's teachings, and fulfilling religious goals with noiseless and peaceful.
Many venerable Buddhist Sayardaws were born or learned the Buddha's teachings or resided in their monkhood mostly in Mandalay, Sagaing, and Magwe regions throughout history until the present time.
Sadly though, the two religious centers in Myanmar - Sagaing and Magwe regions – become terror targets on Buddhist monks.
Senior General Min Aung Hlaing urged to conduct investigations and examinations against the terrorists who committed terror offenses on religious persons at the special courts to charge maximum sentences.
Regarding the terror outrages on the Buddhist religious persons, the Information Team leader of the SAC Major General Zaw Min Tun said, “Media or international community does not disclose those incidents. They try those events to be faded from public view.”
Buddhist Venerable Sayadaw Dr. Ashin Sobhita from Sagaing Region, the founder of the International Buddhist Education Center (IBEC), urged the Defense Services to call for an official peace dialogue with the EAOs, NUG, and the PDF. Sayadaw also made a special request to the NUG and the PDF to follow a proper revolutionary way without harming the public and the civilians. Sayadaw Ashin Sobhita submitted an open letter to the UN regarding the brutal killings of innocent civilians in the country.