The Border and Security Affairs Minister of the Rakhine State Government Colonel Htein Linn was quoted as assaying in a number of media reports that the state government would demolish more than 3000 buildings in Buthidaung and Maungdaw townships, which include mosques and Islamic schools, as he said they were built without official permission. The minister reportedly made the comment on 18 September but he retracted the comment at a media conference held at the Rakhine State Government office six days later, by saying that the state government would not immediately start demolishing of the buildings. Comment from Colonel Htein Linn came after the residents of Buthidaung and Maungdaw townships expressed their concern that the government would demolish 12 mosques, 35 Islamic schools and other buildings in the two towns, whose majority of population are Muslims. At the media briefing, Colonel Htein Linn said the buildings were built without permission on the lands allocated for gardens as well as on wastelands, protected forestland and on the farmland. The illegally built buildings in the border region of Rakhine State are increasing and the area the buildings were built has become villages and the residence in the areas have requested the Ministry of Home Affairs to register their places as new villages. The numbers of buildings listed for demolishing in Maungdaw District are 3326, including 9 mosques and 24 Islamic schools and 16667 homes and 445 shop houses and 125 other buildings. While in Buthidaung 3 mosques, 10 Islamic schools, 876 homes, 159shops and 7 other buildings. Reference: Friday Time/RiA