It is reported that military propagandists are inciting ethnic conflict — using a video footage of an MNDAA soldier hammering a Buddhist pagoda.
In a video that emerged after the Kokang forces occupied Laukkai Town, one of the MNDAA soldiers was watching, one was filming the video, and the other was destroying a pagoda with a hammer.
Military propagandists spread the video on social networks,
and it was seen that they were spreading propaganda using terms that could cause ethnic conflict.
“It is spreading on Facebook and Telegram channels, and they are inciting an issue between Chinese and Burmese ethnic groups. It seems that this is a good reason for the religion issue. At this time, this is something to be careful about,” commented a Yangon-based political observer.
A pro-military person has threatened to monitor the incident for a month and create ethnic conflict.
“It needs to take time. Doing it in anger is often wrong,” the pro-military person wrote on his Facebook account.
In addition, nationalists and extremists went around and protested three places in Mandalay where most monks were staying on January 9.
“Ethnic conflict would be created. This easily makes people boiled,” said a man who fled to Mae Sot, Thailand, after the military junta issued an arrest warrant to him.
Regarding the incident, MNDAA (Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army) stated that they were not ordered to do this, but it was the personal desire of the person who did it.
In addition, the MNDAA apologized again for their subordinates’ violation of the rules and said that they respect freedom of religion.
Furthermore, the MNDAA announced that action will be taken against the perpetrators of this incident, and they have also been instructed to protect religious buildings.