Historic Gu Wa Cave Pagoda Damaged by Military Commission Bombardment, Destroying Buddha Statues

Photo - Wai Hun Aung

Ancient Buddha statues at the historic Gu Wa Cave Pagoda in Ponnagyun Township, Arakan, were damaged following air strikes by fascist military commission forces, according to local reports.

At around 10:00 PM on September 4, military commission forces executed airstrikes and launched heavy artillery bombardments from their Sittwe outposts targeting the vicinity of Gu Wa Cave Pagoda, destroying the historic 500 Arahant Buddha statues situated within the shrine.

The historic Gu Wa Cave Pagoda is located north of Ponnagyun Town along the Sittwe–Ponnagyun highway.

Fierce clashes involving heavy artillery exchanges between military commission forces and the Arakan Army (AA) have escalated on the Sittwe side since the morning of September 4.

Earlier, on September 3, military commission forces deployed jet fighters to conduct air raids targeting five villages located at the tri-border junction of Ponnagyun, Sittwe, and Rathedaung townships.

Source@waihunaung