SITTWE, Rakhine State—A bomb exploded near the construction site of a new office for the ruling National League for Democracy (NLD) party in Buthidaung Township, Rakhine State around 9 a.m. on Wednesday.
Chairman U Ye Thein of the NLD’s Buthidaung Township chapter confirmed the explosion. “It happened in front of our party office construction site,” he said, adding that no one was injured in the explosion.
“I would say it is a threat from the opposition to NLD party members,” he told The Irrawaddy.
Local residents of Buthidaung are in a state of panic after the incident. They reported hearing the explosion but those interviewed by The Irrawaddy said they dare not go to the scene to see what happened.
The construction site is located near the road to Rathedaung Township, to the east of Pan Zin Creek Bridge in Buthidaung.
Buthidaung Township Police chief Major Kyaw Thu Win said that while he knew of the explosion, he did not know the details because the area is controlled by Border Guard Police.
“Yes, the bomb explosion took place near the NLD office near the way out of Buthidaung to Rathedaung,” said Maj. Kyaw Thu Win. “The area is not under our control.”
U Ye Thein said he reported the bomb blast to authorities including Rakhine State Chief Minister U Nyi Pu.
Translated from Burmese by Thet Ko Ko
