Investigators suspect arson at Buddhist temple

[Ensapa]

This is a sad news to share in australia, someone apparently burned down a korean Buddhist temple

Investigators suspect arson at Buddhist temple
by LEESHA MCKENNY, SMH, December 31, 2012
Sydney, Australia -- A BUDDHA statue stood out among the charred wreckage of a temple mysteriously damaged by fire in Sydney's west at the weekend while its residents were overseas.


<< Charred ... the shell of the temple at Jamisontown. Photo: Dean Sewell

Police suspect arson may be behind the blaze at Jamisontown, near Penrith, and Fairfax Media understands the building has been targeted by vandals several times in the past year.

The property, used as a Korean Buddhist temple for about two years, was well alight when emergency crews arrived about 2.30am on Sunday.


 Fire crews managed to contain the fire to half the premises. The remaining structure sustained significant smoke damage. It was still smouldering when NSW Fire and Rescue crews returned to investigate the cause of the blaze on Sunday afternoon.
A prayer room adjoining the kitchen suffered some of the worst damage, including a collapsed roof. A charred collection of prayer books lay near a burnt-out doorway.

A nearby resident, Antonia Iaria, said: ''I've been living here 22 years and we never had trouble with nobody.''

She said a neighbour's dogs had sounded the alarm about 2.30am, and ''the next minute I saw big fire''.

She said the building had stood empty for about three months. Its residents, originally from Korea, had returned there for a holiday, she said.

''We never heard a word from them, they were beautiful people,'' she said. ''They've had a [no trespassing] sign on the gate, they've had a [CCTV] camera there, too.''

Police said investigators would be checking at the temple and with surrounding businesses for security footage.

[sonamdhargey]

Well it is suspected to be done by arson. People in thi era are so degenerate that they burn down temples just to prove a point that they do not accept other religious beliefs. Buddhist temples are scared places and it is peaceful and bring tremendous blessings to the area. Buddhist is about peace and compassion. Why such thing happened is very disturbing.

[bambi]

The amazing thing is that the Buddha statue is still there and although burnt, it still looks good and in 1 piece. I seriously hope it's not arson. And luckily there were nobody in the building. It would be very bad karma for the person who did it. The government should really impose a harsher punishment for these people. People are going around destroying holy places. People nowadays are getting worse because of degeneration. Please do something about it before people get hurt.

[Benny]

Shame on those arsonist , what did they achieve ? Such acts of religious intolerance we normally see in the third world countries but sad to know that it can also happen in an advanced country like Australia. Their authorities had better enforce the law and put those responsible behind bars. Lucky for them no one was in the building at that time otherwise the negative karma incurred would be worst for those responsible .

[rossoneri]

Seriously hope it is not an arson. Why would some group of people will do such an unethical act? Really sad to know this. And i am not saying this it is because they had burned down a temple, but it is the act itself. Clearly show that human are far more dangerous or capable to achieve anything if one wants to. Why would we always wanted to set a difference between us and not the similarity?