BUDDHIST MONKS: STAY AWAY FROM POLITICS
(By Banya Hongsar)

4 August 2003, Bangkok—The Rangoon regime recently ordered Buddhist monks in Moulmein, the capital of Mon State, to stay away from engaging in politics.
Ministry of Home Affair warned that Buddhist monks must remain in the temples if there is a ‘people strike’ in towns. Army Generals lack understanding of Buddhist monks’ role in national reconciliation and civil society building process.

For over ten years, the Rangoon regime has routinely killed, jailed, mistreated, and disrobed leading Buddhist monks who support peace, democracy, and human rights in the country. Members of the Sangkha led by the Supreme Monk Council in Rangoon are powerless to influence the Rangoon regime to not attack democracy activists in Burma, instead they are
preached at and threatened by Senior Generals to shut up and are manipulated to
sign documents saying they will stay away from politics.

Pro-democracy Buddhist monk communities especially in Mandalay, Rangoon, and
Moulmein and other major cities remain active in cooperating with young students and politicians to bring about a “Regime Change”. In the last week of July, Burmese secret agents searched for hard evidence linking anti-Rangoon activities to the Suvannabumi Mon Temple in Thaketa Town, a source from Rangoon said.

The Rangoon based Mon Young Monks Organization works to enhance the role of civil society in the context of religious teaching. A few Mon monks have published annual “Magazines” both in Mon and Burmese languages as well as opening free “Summer Classes’” to Mon children in Rangoon and the surrounding area. The Burmese Secret Police keep a close watch over such activities for many years but the Monks’ community carefully conducts
teaching classes in line with Buddhist rules.

Last year, the Rangoon based Mon youth monks were restricted to publish an
“annual magazine” instead they hand copies to local New Mon State Party members for publication and distribution. The magazine contains no political content but the publication is aimed to encourage Mon children who do not have enough reading material during the school holiday.

According to a media release by “Central Mon Literature and Culture Association” on June 2002, 34 senior representatives of a language committee has a policy to foster the teaching and learning of Mon language with a collective effort of local Buddhist temples and community halls.

The Department of Religious Affairs never acknowledges the existing Mon Civil Society led by senior monks in the Mon Territory. The pro-democracy Buddhist monk community has been involved in a “People Uprising” along with their fellow layman in all important historic events, in 1947, 1988 and 1990 democracy campaigns.

Local Buddhist monks do not seek power in Burma. Leading senior Buddhist monks have always played a key role in shaping civil society and harmony based on the teaching of the Buddha Gotama. The Rangoon regime led by Senior General Than Shwe distorts the image of the Buddhist community while he uses his thug groups to beat up people and attack leaders of the National League for Democracy and democracy activists. Former Dictator General Ne Win acted like Saddam Hussein in oppressing a religious community and anyone who criticizes his government.

Senior Buddhist monks are banned from publishing public statements of social concern to the nation, a practice that has been part of Buddhism for at least 2 thousand years. The Ministry of Home Affairs employs thousands of military personnel as informers in major temples in Rangoon, Mandalay, Moulmein and other major cities in the last ten years to keep an active “Watch” on the activities of young monks in the temples. Informers work as “Temple Men” in major temples including even Burma’s temples abroad to obtain information.

The Rangoon Regime fools the public by holding its own ceremonies and religious events while joining in the gathering in full uniform. Moreover, Pro-Regime senior monks are offered television sets and other luxury items for the temple as a bribe.

Some Buddhist monks have gone to great lengths and have risked their lives in promoting national reconciliation. The role of senior monks and monk scholars cannot be overlooked and must have a place in the future of Burma or the transition to peace and stability may be disrupted for decades to come. Thousands of pro-democracy monks in Mandalay, Rangoon and Moulmein have the capacity to lead peace and promote civil society in their respected towns and villages.

Rev Uttama, Rev Wisara and their fellow monks were against British rule and themonks in Bangkok played a leading role in assisting the Burma Independence Army (BIA) led by General Aung San in a Bangkok Buddhist Temple in the 1940s to achieve independence. Senior Mon monks located at Yannawa in Bangkok now administer the temple.

For many years, leading senior monks have distanced themselves from the corrupt Rangoon regime but focus instead on Buddha’s teaching. However, the Generals obsessed with their grip on power seek out those who fall prey to “Honorary Titles.”

There was a well-recorded history of Monk’s initiatives in the Burmese political context but its track record has been removed from the archives. The Buddha once said: “A man without moral principles should not receive homage of others”. However, the Rangoon Generals have forced ordinary people to “worship” them in public events.

The Rangoon Generals treat the Buddhist monk as a religious worker and receives no social access to government services. Educated monks have left to other countries for further studies because they are excluded from participating in society.