The military council’s media department revealed that Deputy Military Leader Soe Win visited the historic Nandat Oo Lokamarazein Pagoda in Taungoo, Bago Region, while wearing shoes. This information was initially published on the military council’s information website as a note, which was later removed. The note included instructions about being careful with photos showing shoes being worn at the pagoda and prioritizing coverage of damage to the structure.
The historic pagoda suffered significant damage during the March 28 earthquake, including damage to its crown, bird’s perch, and smaller stupas on the platform. Since then, public access has been restricted except for rescue and aid workers. Local volunteer groups, Red Cross members, firefighters, and residents had cleared the debris, and the platform was reported to be free of rubble. According to a local charity worker, no one wore shoes on the pagoda platform during the cleanup operations, making the deputy military leader’s actions particularly unacceptable.
The Nandat Oo Lokamarazein Pagoda holds significant historical importance, having been built by King Bodawpaya in 1161 ME. It was initially named Nandat Oo Yan Aung Naing and was later renamed to Nandat Oo Lokamarazein in 1290 ME. The pagoda represents an important piece of Myanmar’s cultural and religious heritage, making the incident of wearing shoes on its premises particularly controversial. The local volunteer worker emphasized that even during the cleanup of earthquake damage, all workers maintained proper religious respect by removing their footwear while on the pagoda platform.
