Burmese military issues threat to monks
Sep 24, 2007 (DVB)—The Burmese military has directly threatened monks involved in protests in the country in a nationwide media address for the first time since fuel prices were increased last month.
In a televised segment on the state-run MRTV channel this evening, minister for religious affairs brigadier general Thura Myint Maung warned Burma’s monks not to break Buddhist “rules and regulations”.
“The monks who are walking (in protest) now represent only 2 percent of the nation-wide monk population . . . if they do not operate according to Buddhist rules then they will be faced with the law,” Thura Myint Maung was shown on saying on the TV bulletin just hours after more than 200,000 monks and civilians protested around the country.
The military frequently uses the phrase ‘faced with the law’ when preparing to arrest or charge activists and opposition members on political grounds. The day after the leadership of the 88 Generation Students group was arrested during midnight raids, the state-run New Light of Myanmar said the activists had broken the law and would face legal action.
The threats also came as reports emerged from Mytikyina and Monywa of monks being thrown out of their monasteries for taking part in small demonstrations. Residents in Myitkyina told DVB today that 30 monks from the Wun Tho monastery were sent back to their home towns by abbot U Wuntha for taking part in yesterday’s protest.
“The abbot has close ties with the government as he was elected by them as the State’s head monk . . .,” one resident said on condition of anonymity.
In Monywa, almost 200 monks are reported to have been kicked out of their monasteries for taking part in protest marches against military oppression.
Reporting by Naw Noreen and Aye Naing
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