On May, 15, 2001, the ruling military junta, State Peace and Development Council (SPDC), instigated anti-Muslim riots in Taungoo, Pegu division, resulting in the deaths of about 200 Muslims, in the destruction of 11 mosques and setting ablaze of over 400 houses. According to an eye-witness (name withheld), over 2000 Military Intelligence (MI) personnel and members of Union Solidarity and Development Association
(USDA), some of them in disguise of Buddhist monks with pistols and walkie-talkies, implemented the riots there in Taungoo. The hoodlums were led by Capt. Khin Maung Yin of MI No. 3 of Taungoo. USDA is a mass organization of the ruling junta.
Brutal killings
On May, 15, the first day of the anti-Muslim uprisings, about 20 Muslims including 2 Imams of the mosques, who were praying in the Han Tha mosque were killed and some were beaten to death by the pro-junta forces, according to a Muslim who escaped. Then the dead bodies were carried
away by the junta s military vehicles. Han Tha mosque was gifted to the Muslims in seventh century A. D. by Great King Tabin Shwe Htee, a Mon King. 24 Muslims were burnt into ashesIn the same day in Taungoo town, the houses of Haji U Soe Myint(70 years old) and his 6 family members, Haji U Maung Sein (60 years old) and his 7 family members, 5 family members of Moe Lin Food-shop (restaurant) and U Tin Maung and his 3 family members tied up in their respective houses, were burnt down into ashes, according to a relative of the deceased. The houses of Haji U Soe Myint and Haji U Maung Sein were on the Koon The Gyi Road and Moe Lin restaurant was beside Rangoon-Mandalay highway, in
Taungoo.
Bloodbath
On the following day, Saya Khalid and his 6 family members, Saya Amin s 5 family members, U Kyaw Kyaw and his 6 family members, U Maung Tin Hla and his 4 family members and Saya Anwar and his 5 family members were slaughtered when some were beaten to death . The hoodlums firstly looted the valuables, killed the Muslims and then set on fire their houses, according to a Buddhist merchant from Taungoo. According to an eye-witness, 21 other people including U Ahamad (45 years old), a Store-shop owner, on Bo Mhu Poe Kwant street were slaughtered in Taungoo main town. 8 mosques alone in Taungoo town, ( Taungoo mosque, Swad mosque, Han Tha mosque, Wei Zan mosque, Kandaw mosque, Ka Ka mosque, Pann-The mosque and Railway station mosque) were destroyed or set on fire by the pro-ruling junta forces. According to another Buddhist merchant, during the anti-Muslim uprisings in Taungoo, all the expenses (for food, travellings etc;) of the anti-Muslim elements, were
borne by U Sein Hlaing , Shwe Hnin Ze Burmese cheroots factory owner, a staunch supporter of the ruling junta in Taungoo.
SPDC Generals inspection
On May, 17, 2001, according to a Buddhist merchant, name withheld, Lt.
General Win Myint, Secretary No.3 of the SPDC and deputy Home and Religious minister arrived and curfew was imposed there in Taungoo until today, July, 12, 2001. All communication lines remain disconnected. On May, 18, however, Han Tha mosque and Taungoo Railway station mosque were razed to ground by bulldozers owned by the SPDC junta. Throughout the anti-Muslim uprisings, SPDC security forces were with or beside the hoodlums, according to eye-witnesses.
Killings of Muslim Bus passengers
On 16, May, 2001, during anti-Muslim uprisings, a group of hoodlums, among them some bogus monks, led by Capt. Khin Maung Yin dragged out about 35 Muslim passengers from the buses at Taungoo bus station. The anti-Muslim elements slaughtered 7 of them when the rests could have
fled the deaths, according to a Buddhist merchant who sheltered some Muslims.
On May, 17, the anti-Muslim uprisings spread towards the rural areas. The scene was very ugly and brutal as some 3 to 5 year-old children and pregnant women were slaughtered. In the districts of Oaktwin, Thagaya , Pyu , Yedashe, Swa and Kyauktaga, about 47 Muslims were killed and about 85 Muslim houses were set on fire, according to a Muslim from the rural area.
Train passengers
On May, 23, 2001, when Mandalay-Rangoon passenger train stopped at the Lay Daung Kan station, about 40 miles away from Rangoon, 4 bogus monks accompanied by about 15 security forces, dragged out about 18 Muslim passengers and slaughtered 4 of them when the rests could have fled the
deaths, according to a Muslim who escaped.
On May, 25, 2001, according to a relative of a Muslim deceased who escaped, 13 Muslims, young and old, from Taungoo, who fled the religious persecution in Taungoo, were arrested and shot dead by the armed forces of Light Infantry Battalion No.39, at a place about 20 miles from Taungoo and about 30 miles away from Than Daung.
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