Authorities register case over porn video in Bagan, Interpol to be contacted

15 February 2020
Authorities register case over porn video in Bagan, Interpol to be contacted
A horse cart drives through the old Tharabar Gateway in Bagan, the ancient temple city of Myanmar, Mandalay region, Myanmar. Photo: Nyein Chan Naing/EPA

The Archeology Department branch office in Bagan has registered a case against those who shot a pornography video in Bagan cultural area and they say they will cooperate with Interpol to bring the culprits to justice.

AFP reported that this porn video was shot on a pagoda in Bagan and it was posted on an infamous porn website called “Porn Hub”. It was reportedly viewed by over 250,000 people.

Director Aung Aung Kyaw from Archeology Department, Bagan Branch Office said, “We are now working to identify these people and their nationality. And we have registered a case against them.”

“They committed obscene acts in this area, they insulted the world heritage site and they made a nuisance to the people by insulting our cultural heritage. The police will decide on which sections of the law will be used in charging them in this case,” he added.

The director said they would work with Interpol and the Myanmar Immigration Department on the case.

Director Aung Aung Kyaw also said that their Archeology Department was focused on the conservation of the Bagan world heritage site and his department alone and an individual alone cannot pursue this case, rather it needs everybody to join hands.

The Archeology Department lodged a complaint of shooting the porn video in Bagan cultural area at the police station and prepared to register a case against the culprits but work for charging them under the appropriate sections of the law is still underway.

A local resident from Bagan, Thuzar Aung, said, “Shooting a porn video in cultural area like Bagan affects our dignity. We cannot say such crimes will not recur again. We should take more care with foreign travellers and we should do more scrutiny of them.”

Tour operators made criticisms on this incident of shooting porn video in Bagan cultural area which is the sacred place of Buddhism and the most famous historical and world heritage site in Myanmar and they also pointed out the weaknesses in security.

Myanmar Travel and Tour Operators Association Chairman Naung Naung Han said, “We need to beef up the security. Since the Bagan cultural area is wide and vast so that we must install CCTVs there unless we can deploy guards and security personnel. And also our ministry concerned should launch an education and awareness campaign on the Dos and Don’ts in this area to travellers.”

The news service AFP reported that this porn video lasted about 12 minutes and the couple seen in this video are reportedly 23-year old Italians with tattoo on their bodies and wear earrings.