Independent Mon News Agency (IMNA)

June 27, 2003

Monks are forced to promise to not involve in politics

The Mon State authorities issued an order to all Buddhist monks to not interfere in politics and also forced them to sign a document to give promise.

Mon State Peace and Development Council issued this order on June 24, and the authorities gave instructions to all Townships to force the monks to sign for promise that they would not involve in politics.

Accordingly to the order, Mon State PDC informed to all village headmen and “Sangha” Associations to inform the monks in all monasteries to not involve and interfere in the politics.

Therefore, the village chairmen of many villages in Mon State approach to monks to sign on a document that promising they would not involve and interfere in the politics.

Similarly to Mon State PDC’s issued order, State Sangha Association which has headquarters in Kaba-aye in Rangoon, also issued a Statement and urged to all monks to not involve in the politics, said by a monk who received the Statement.

When IMNA asks a monk from Rangoon, who is the member of (underground) Young Monk Union, he explained that:

“This order also violates the rights of every monk and also the Buddhist principles. The philosophy of Buddha is quiet similarly to Democracy. As the military government does not follow accordingly to the principles of democracy, they became ‘dictators’. There must be balance (or equal) in power and justice. We, the monks are always with the people.”

In Mon State, there are many Sangha associations and they have been actively involved in the activities of community development by cooperating with the people. Many Mon monks actively involved in dry season Mon literacy training and teach Mon language to children.

The monks actively involved in leading role during 1988 pro-democracy uprising.