Since the 2021 coup, the military at the helm in Myanmar has created a huge Buddha statue in the capital Naypyidaw and unveiled it to domestic and international media. As the battle with pro-democracy forces intensifies, it seems that the aim is to increase authority and gain the support of the people by showing a stance of protecting Buddhism.
On the 21st, a huge marble Buddha statue was unveiled in Naypyi Taw, the capital of Myanmar, and is about 19 meters high, about 4 meters higher than the Great Buddha of Todaiji Temple in Nara City.
Construction began under the direction of Commander Min Aung Hlaing, the head of the military who initiated the coup, and was completed at a cost of more than 41.9 billion yen at Japan yen.
A military spokesman said: "The purpose is to wish for peace and prosperity in the country, and we guarantee that you will be impressed by the Buddha statue made only of marble."
In Myanmar, since the coup, fighting between the military and pro-democracy forces has intensified, and economic activities such as trade have stagnated due to the tightening of sanctions by Western countries.
The military seems to want to increase its authority and gain support by demonstrating its stance of protecting Buddhism to Buddhists, who make up about <>% of the population.