Yangon (AsiaNews) – The standoff between Buddhist Monks and Myanmar’s military Junta continues. According to media linked to Burmese dissidents the government has limited the traditional alms rounds to one hour and ordered a curfew at some monasteries. Among these the monasteries at Gandayone, Alodawpyi and Sittwe, in western Arakan state.
Official papers such as The New Light of Myanmar, meanwhile are giving ample coverage to “charitable” gestures on the part of State officials, such as the donation of cooking oil and money to over 102 monasteries Mandalay by Major Khin Zaw, Junta chief in the central region. The aim is to boost the authorities image, badly damaged by the violent repression of popular protests against rising fuel costs.
The monks had recently joined in street protests: a peaceful demonstration in Pakokku last week was put down with force. But the religious have no intention of remaining silent on the issue and now are demanding an official apology and the immediate release of all political prisoners. Until now the authorities has limited itself to compensating victims (30 thousand Kyat). The monks are threatening to abandon the traditional army alms giving if they do not receive an official apology by September 17. The almsgiving is an important spiritual duty for all good Buddhists: a sign of respect and of merit it is a means of purifying oneself from evil and gaining merit in view of reincarnation. The Monks refusal of the alms is sign of strong moral reproof, in short comparable to excommunication.
