A Buddhist monk who built a Buddhist stupa in a church compound is to have his dreams crushed – literally – after authorities vowed to tear down the vision-inspired monument.
Minister for Religious Affairs U Soe Win promised to halt the controversial construction project in Kayin State’s Hpa-an Township after meeting Christian leaders on Monday, the Myanmar Times reported.
Buddhist faithful reportedly started building the structure in August on the orders of local monk Myaing Kyee Ngu Saya-daw, who had an inspirational dream.
Local Baptists were less keen on the idea – saying they had been given no warning about the construction within their churchyard, which dates back to the 1920s.
Mann San Thein Tun, secretary of a commission associated with the Myanmar Baptist Convention, said the government had given the promise but work was still ongoing as Myaing Kyee Ngu Saya-daw was in Thailand for medical treatment.
“Currently building is still going on,” he told the Times. “The minister understands that it shouldn’t be done.”
Photo / Myanmar Baptist Convention / Facebook
