Memorial wreaths laid at U Ottama statue removed

By DMG 09 Sep 2021

DMG Newsroom
9 September 2021, Sittwe 

Memorial wreaths were removed not long after they were laid in front of an U Ottama statue in Ann town on September 9, marking the 82^nd anniversary of the Sayadaw’s death. 

The wreaths were removed at about 9 a.m. on Thursday after a group of people led by the Ann Youth New Generation Network laid them at the Sayadaw U Ottama statue around 7 a.m., a responsible person from the Ann Youth New Generation Network told DMG. 

“There were soldiers and police when we laid the wreaths. They allowed us to lay the wreaths but said not to be noisy,” said the responsible person. “These wreaths were removed about half an hour after we returned from the place. When we asked a police member, he said they didn’t remove them. We don’t know who did it.” 

About 30 members of the police and other security forces were posted on Thursday near the park where the independence hero U Ottama’s statue is located.   

U Soe Thein, a resident of Ann Township, said of the removal of the wreaths: “This is not an everyday act. We just lay wreaths once a year to honour the Sayadaw and mark his death anniversary. We feel sad as these wreaths were removed.” 

People who attended the ceremony in Ann town said it was held in line with Covid-19 regulations. 

Events marking the 82^nd anniversary of Sayadaw U Ottama’s death were reportedly held in every township of Arakan State on Thursday.