Venerable Wayama from the Spring Revolution Interfaith Network has criticized the religious donation made by arms broker Nay Htut Aung and his wife Way Way Yin to the Mahamuni Buddha Temple in Mandalay, stating it does not constitute genuine merit but rather represents an exploitation of religion. The donation, which included 3 viss of gold and 26,000 lakhs kyats, was made on June 7 for the reconstruction of the eastern corridor and six main pillars of the temple that were damaged by an earthquake.
Venerable Wayama emphasized that the donation from an arms broker who facilitates the procurement of weapons used to kill civilians cannot be considered meritorious and is merely a manipulation of religion to deceive the public. Nay Htut Aung is known to be one of the key arms brokers for the military council who has amassed significant wealth through facilitating the purchase of military equipment, helicopters, and spare parts worth millions of US dollars.
Notably, Nay Htut Aung has played a crucial role in importing parts for Russian MiG-29 fighter jets to Myanmar and is currently under economic sanctions from the United States, European Union, and other Western nations. As the founder of International Gateways Group of Companies in Myanmar, he serves as an intermediary broker procuring military weapons and equipment for the military council from China and Russia. Venerable Wayama further emphasized that such donations are solely intended to serve the military council’s interests and deceive the public, rather than generate genuine religious merit.
