The Burmese military government has limited alms rounds to one hour and ordered a curfew at some monasteries across Burma, following increased tension between the authorities and monks.
Authorities have also set up more security around several monasteries and some areas in downtown Pegu about 80 km north of Rangoon, according to residents.
Monks at Gandayone Monastery and Alodawpyi Monastery in Sittwe in western Arakan State said they received a letter last week from the State Sangha Mahanayaka Committee, the official council of monks in Rangoon, ordering monks not to leave the monasteries from 9 p.m. to 4 a.m, following a demonstration of about 200 monks on August 28.
Meanwhile, an organization called "the alliance of all Burmese Buddhist monks" has called on monks to refuse alms offered by members of the military regime unless an apology is issued for the violence used against monks in recent days.
If an apology is not received by September 17, monks should stage a "patam nikkujjana kamma,” or boycott of alms, effectively denying the granting of merit.
A monk from Bawdi Mandine Monastery in Pakokku in Magwe Division told The Irrawaddy on Wednesday that Brig-Gen Thura Myint Maung, who heads the Ministry of Religious Affairs, visited monks in Pakokku on Monday.
“He did not come to offer an apology, but to talk about the recent tension and to donate some Buddhist robes,” the monk said.
The minister met with about 20 senior monks from Bawdi Mandine Monastery, Maha Visutarama Monastery, Maha Vijayarama Monastery (known as Ah Shei Taik) and Mandalay Monastery (known as Ah Nauk Taik).
Elsewhere, residents in Pegu said that in recent days a letter from an unknown source has been distributed to monasteries claiming that the authorities used no violence against monks in Pakokku, but that monks used violence against authorities.
On September 5, up to 500 monks in Pakokku marched in a peaceful demonstration against high commodity and fuel prices. Burmese officials, soldiers and junta-supported groups confronted the monks, injuring at least three monks who were beaten.
A day after the demonstration 13 high ranking Burmese officials and military officers paid a visit to Maha Visutarama Monastery and were detained for more than six hours by angry monks. Several cars driven by officials were burned.
Elsewhere, police officials in Naypyidaw, Burma’s new capital, have announced that since September 6 a "state of emergency" has been declared in all police divisions.
Police have been ordered to report all incidents of demonstrations and anti-government actions to their superiors.
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Novice monks in Rangoon receiving alms for the morning meal[Photo: Pat Brown/The Irrawaddy] |
Monks at Gandayone Monastery and Alodawpyi Monastery in Sittwe in western Arakan State said they received a letter last week from the State Sangha Mahanayaka Committee, the official council of monks in Rangoon, ordering monks not to leave the monasteries from 9 p.m. to 4 a.m, following a demonstration of about 200 monks on August 28.
Meanwhile, an organization called "the alliance of all Burmese Buddhist monks" has called on monks to refuse alms offered by members of the military regime unless an apology is issued for the violence used against monks in recent days.
If an apology is not received by September 17, monks should stage a "patam nikkujjana kamma,” or boycott of alms, effectively denying the granting of merit.
A monk from Bawdi Mandine Monastery in Pakokku in Magwe Division told The Irrawaddy on Wednesday that Brig-Gen Thura Myint Maung, who heads the Ministry of Religious Affairs, visited monks in Pakokku on Monday.
“He did not come to offer an apology, but to talk about the recent tension and to donate some Buddhist robes,” the monk said.
The minister met with about 20 senior monks from Bawdi Mandine Monastery, Maha Visutarama Monastery, Maha Vijayarama Monastery (known as Ah Shei Taik) and Mandalay Monastery (known as Ah Nauk Taik).
Elsewhere, residents in Pegu said that in recent days a letter from an unknown source has been distributed to monasteries claiming that the authorities used no violence against monks in Pakokku, but that monks used violence against authorities.
On September 5, up to 500 monks in Pakokku marched in a peaceful demonstration against high commodity and fuel prices. Burmese officials, soldiers and junta-supported groups confronted the monks, injuring at least three monks who were beaten.
A day after the demonstration 13 high ranking Burmese officials and military officers paid a visit to Maha Visutarama Monastery and were detained for more than six hours by angry monks. Several cars driven by officials were burned.
Elsewhere, police officials in Naypyidaw, Burma’s new capital, have announced that since September 6 a "state of emergency" has been declared in all police divisions.
Police have been ordered to report all incidents of demonstrations and anti-government actions to their superiors.
