Collapsed Buddhist Temple a Dark Sign for Burmese Dictator

The collapse of a 2,300-year-old Buddhist temple 15 minutes from Rangoon is being seen as a sign of the spirits’ disapproval of the military dictatorship and has Senior General Than Shwe worried, sources inside Burma say,
“It is a mysterious event, and people are talking about little else since they heard the news,” said an editor of a Rangoon newspaper. “Many pagodas have collapsed in the past because of natural disasters. But this pagoda collapsed not because of a disaster and even killed people. I have never seen this kind of event in my lifetime. We are afraid that bad things will follow soon.”
The 180-feet-high brick Danote Pagoda in Dala township came tumbling down the evening of May 30 as workers were restoring it, killing an estimated 20 workers and injuring dozens more. The collapse followed soon after Than Shwe’s wife, Kyaing Kyaing, and other family members dedicated the restored pagoda May 7 by placing a diamond umbrella atop the gold leaf-covered structure. The “hti,” or diamond umbrella, of a significant Buddhist pagoda is often adorned with diamonds, rubies, sapphires and other gems. A holy and powerful person such as a ranking monk, wealthy person or country ruler generally places the hti over the pagoda. The holy power of the pagoda accepts only the righteous person‘s donation, according to traditional belief. The diamond umbrella placed by the general’s wife fell to the ground during the collapse, signaling the spirits’ displeasure.
Danote is among the most famous pagodas in Burma. Built by a king of the southern region, the pagoda has been rocked by earthquakes many times in its long history. The Danote Pagoda was badly damaged by Cyclone Nargis in May 2008, and General Than Shwe ‘s wife leaded the repairs.
In Burma, a Buddhist nation where common people as well as the ruling generals depend largely on the advice of astrologers, Pagodas are closely tied to the power and the fortune of the country’s rulers. In ancient history, pagodas are said to have shown a beautiful holy light when the king ruled the country well. But pagodas have collapsed when the king was soon to lose power. Burma’s rulers traditionally believe that building and renovating pagodas will increase their power. Conversely, an event like the collapse of the Dala pagoda is a bad sign for a ruler’s fortune.
Despite an official ban on reporting the collapse in the media, news of the incident spread like wildfire throughout Burma, and the people believe that bad tidings are in store for General Than Shwe, sources in Burma said. A well-known astrologer said the guardian sprits of this pagoda and heaven have given Than Shwe a warning sign. The astrologer said the spirits didn’t accept his family donation because they are bad rulers who killed monks, students and democracy activists in many democracy protests over the years and arrested many innocent people seeking democracy.
Those arrested include Noble Peace Prize-winner Aung San Su Kyi, the democratically elected president of Burma and opposition leader who has spent 13 of the past 19 years under house arrest. Su Kyi, 64, is currently on trial for giving shelter to an American man who swam across a lake to her heavily-guarded home. Many Burmese see the trial as another attempt by the Burmese regime to prevent her from taking part in coming elections in 2010.
“I am an educated person. I don’t want to give any comment for this traditional belief,” said a Burmese physician living in Rangoon. “But I can say that it is a really a tough time for General Than Shwe and the other Burmese generals. Now they have got a lot international pressure for putting Aung San Su Kyi on trial again.”
Than Shwe’s wife led the restoration of the pagoda, demanding that the construction company finish the job before the end of May, which an astrologer chose as the most propitious time for the dedication ceremony. Burmese journalist have learned that Kyaing Kyaing urged township authorities to conscript navy men and local villagers as forced laborers to finish the project on schedule, therefore rushing the work. The military junta officially blamed the collapse on poor construction work and immediately began questioning construction company officials. Those officials and others including township authorities fear arrest, sources said.
The Junta issued an official warning after the collapse that people who speak of the collapse and rumors concerning the general’s family could face three years in prison.
The pagoda’s collapse is a clear sign of General Than Shwe’s fate, a well-know Rangoon fortune teller said. “General Than Shwe knows about his bad fortune. We are sad for the deaths of the people killed in the collapse. But we happy that the gods will give Than Shwe punishment sooner or later. If you don’t believe my fortune telling, let’s see what happens to him.”

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