Kachin Muslims saddened by mosque burning
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YANGON - Muslims in Kachin State were saddened by the burning of their temporary mosque on June 1.
Kachin police said an illegal, temporary mosque in Hpakant was destroyed by villagers on Friday July 1, the Muslim day of prayer.
The police say they are investigating the incident.
A Muslim villager said: “We are now safe. The police could do nothing because of the number of villagers. It is true that we were instructed to remove the building by June 30. The authorities told us to remove it by ourselves. We could not do that. They do not have compassion. It is the middle of Ramadan and our holy day. I am so sad."
On July 1, approximately 500 people burned the building. No injuries were reported.
The mosque was reportedly built illegally and the "landowner" failed to produce the required documents. The Kachin authorities said they instructed the removal of the building by June 30 and blocked off the site.
A police officer in Lonekhin village tract, Thura Myo Naung, said: "Village elders and the Muslim community agreed to negotiate with the authorities and obey the law to build a mosque a month ago. We are going to take action and the security forces have been increased. We did not ask the military to help.”
