The SPDC Prime Minister visit to Taungdwinggyi, without seeing victims of the quake

DVB ( 16 October, 2003 )

The SPDC Prime Minister General Khin Nyunt visited Taungdwinggyi on the 11 October and ‘inspected’ the ancient pagodas damaged by the recent earthquake in central.

Because of the visit, the people of Taungdwinggyi were put in trouble for a week, according to the local people because local traders were told by municipal authorities to dismantle their kerbside shops a week before the visit was due.

Moreover, all the shops were forced to close down and trishaw and horse drawn cart drivers were forced to stop working on the day of the general’s visit.

The general visited two ancient pagodas which were damaged by the quake and ‘donated’ some money for the repair of the pagodas. He scolded the local authorities for not giving the exact figures of the damages incurred. According to a local resident, 400 houses, 36 pagodas and 148 schools were destroyed and it is hard to estimate their exact monetary values.

But the general failed to inspect other affected areas and he didn’t make an effort to help the victims of the quake. The local people say that he only came to inspect a government factory and its buildings which were destroyed in the quake. It is rumoured that at least 40 people were killed in the area but the government has never officially confirmed the figure publicly.