Restrictions on worship imposed in monastery in Sittwe

Restrictions on worship imposed in monastery in Sittwe



Written by Webmaster
Thursday, 11 October 2007
Akyab (Sittwe), Burma: Burmese Army troops barged into a monastery yesterday night in Akyab (Sittwe) and threw out the monks. Restrictions were imposed on worship. The army chalked out a schedule for worship for the monastery, said a Buddhist monk from Akyab.
The second senior monk Sayadaw "U Thun Tara", (45), of the Hla Rwa Win monastery in Akyab was accused of joining the anti-government protests and playing a leading role in the demonstrations led by Buddhist monks in Sittwe. But Sayadaw fled on October 1, because he had known he would be arrested. He was tipped off about the impending arrest.
On October 4, five monks from the monastery were driven out by the Military Intelligence on the allegation that they actively participated in the recent anti-junta demonstrations led by Buddhist monks in Sittwe.
The monastery is being watched by riot police since October 4. Nobody is allowed to enter the monastery whenever they wish to for prayers or lighting candles except during a scheduled time, said a worshiper.
The authorities sure that Sayadaw U Thun Thara, will flee to Bangladesh through Maungdaw have alerted officials and ordered sealing of the border.Since September 26, the Burmese military regime has cracked down violently on the peaceful protests led by tens of thousands of Buddhist monks in cities throughout Burma . Thousands have been detained and untold numbers of civilians, including monks, have been killed. Monasteries continue to be raided, monks arrested.

By Kaladanpress.org