Illicit drug use in the vicinity of the ancient pagodas, walls and temples of the Mrauk-U cultural zone and its Let Sel Kan ward is on the rise significantly, according to some locals in the Arakan State township.
Drug use was low in the past, but in the wake of conflict between the Myanmar military and Arakan Army (AA), and the Covid-19 pandemic, drug use has reportedly increased in the vicinity of Mrauk-U’s heritage structures and other sparsely populated areas.
“Some drug users go to less crowded places and use the drugs. The drug problem in Mrauk-U is very serious. Officials should address this issue as a project,” said Daw Khin Than, chairperson of the Mrauk-U Cultural Heritage Conservation Association.
Parents need to make sure their children do not use illegal narcotics, and the relevant authorities need to work together to educate them, she added.
“Drug use is on the rise because of the ease with which drugs can be purchased,” said Ko Than Soe, a member of the Mrauk-U Youths Association (MUYA), adding that drug abuse education alone would not stop drug users in Mrauk-U. “The government is very weak in handling drug-smuggling cases. Sometimes I see people using drugs when going to the temple. We can do nothing to tackle the drug problem without local authorities’ cooperation.”
Most illegal drug users in Mrauk-U are under the age of 20, according to locals.
Drug use in and around the ancient heritage zone is not to be taken lightly, as it can tarnish the image of the region and the nation, said U San Tun Kyaw, a member of the Koe Thaung Temple board of trustees.
“It is not appropriate for pilgrims to see drug-use cases in the vicinity of ancient pagodas. We try our best to prevent this from happening at the ancient pagodas,” he added.
Photos of abandoned drug-related paraphernalia in sight of the ancient pagodas and temples of Mrauk-U have gone viral on social media.
DMG attempted to contact the Mrauk-U Township administrator’s office to find out what authorities were doing to curb illicit drug use, but to no avail.
