Clash between monks and police in Paukkhaung

DVB (August 19,2003)

Six policemen in Paukkhaung, were detained by the novice monk from Kyauksri monastery after the police searched the monastery and demanded some of them to be defrocked for arrest on 12 August.

“The police checked the guest list at the monastery because there were some visiting monks,” said a resident from Prome (Pyi), a nearby major town. “The police wanted to arrest some monks because they were not following religious rules which means they were required to stay at their own monastery during lent.”

But there were also reports saying that around 20 monks were arrested because they vandalised some flowerpots, hedges and signboards along the streets of the town around 8pm on that night.

The clash happened when the district police officer, Tun Win marched to the monastery and demanded the monks to release those involved for arrest.

After a discussion with the authority, the arrested monks were released. Now, the monastery was ordered to close for five days and the novice monks were ordered to go home, according to the resident.