A group of monks from The Race and Religion Protection Committee (Ma Ba Tha) wrote a letter to the Chief Minister of Bago Region urging him not to allow for reopening of the mosques in Taunngoo, which were sealed off since the Muslim-Buddhist riots erupted in the town 15 years ago. The chief minister U Win Thein gave a verbal instruction to allow reopening of the mosques during his tour of the town on 20 May. The letter from Ma Ba Tha was sent after the chief minister’s trip to Taungoo. The letter said the mosques should not allowed to be reopened as they are situated close to the town’s center. And it also mention that the order to reopen the mosques was disagreed by the local population, monks as well as by the social and religious organizations. The letter called on the chief minister to revoke his verbal order within the three days after receiving the letter and asked him explain, to the local people, on what has prompted him to allow reopening of the mosques. It said allowing for reopening of the mosques could trigger renewed religious riots in the town. During 2001 Muslim Buddhist riots many Muslims were killed and their properties were looted. Taungoo has 11 mosques among them Hantha Mosque was destroyed and 10 Mosques were sealed off since then. Reference Wirathu Facebook https://www.facebook.com/ven.wirathumsy/media_set?set=a.848690281941148.1073741973.100004005531662&type=3