ENGLISH DEYEA NEWS

by Myo Gyi | Ruili – Ignoring fervent appeals by Christian church leaders, the Burmese military junta authorities in Myitkyinar, Kachin State continue to raze a Christian cemetery in the town to the ground.

About half the tombs in the Christian cemetery in Dukathaung Ward, Myitkyinar have been razed by bulldozers. The demolition began on October 14.

"Elders of the Christian community and church leaders appealed to successive authorities not to destroy the cemetery. The cemetery was not touched when former Northern region regional commanders Maj. Gen. Maung Maung Swe and Maj. Gen. Ohn Myint were in charge of Kachin State. A 'Physic Nut plantation project' signboard was put up on the precincts. But the new regional commander has not paid heed to the request by local people and has begun to demolish it," a local youth from Dukathaung Ward said.

The former Northern Region regional commander Maj. Gen. Maung Maung Swe seized the cemetery ground in 2003 and put up a 'Physic Nut plantation project' signboard.

A Kachin social organization has accused the junta authorities of not allowing them to retrieve the remains from the cemetery which has been in use since 1960.

"The local people are disappointed and upset as they are not being allowed to retrieve the sacred remains of their forefathers. These tombs and mortal remains are priceless and sacred for their faith and religion," Ko Aung Wah, leader of Thai based 'Kachin Social Development Network', said.

Now local people have to use the 'Naung Nan' cemetery instead which is 10 miles from Dukathaung Ward to bury their dead.