“Ks 7 million will be spent to build a bronze statue of Bogyoke [Aung San] inside a five-acre park. We have received Ks 30 million budget from the government. Among them, Ks 23 million will be spent on the construction of the park and the remaining Ks 7 million on the statue,” said Pu Obed Nawl Ceu.

The government is carrying out this project even though civil society organizations from Htantlang have submitted letters to respective departments to demand them to use Bogyoke statue’s budget for regional development.

“We held a meeting with the MPs from Htantlang and city elders. We told them that [the statue] is needed to observe the Martyrs’ Day in the park. They agreed to it. Only the minority disagree to it,” Pu Obed Nawl Ceu explained.

“I believe this statue is not needed for Htantlang. There are more important issues than this. Many issues need to be solved starting from the side streets. Many things can be done with the budget they are going to spent [on the statue]. Although we objected to it, the government is using its authority to carry out the project,” said Mai Par Koo, a civil activist from Htantlang.

While the local authorities are building Bogyoke statue and park in Htantlang, local authorities in Hakha are searching for a location to build a park and erect Bogyoke statue.