Monastic Council Restores Status of Released Monks

The official body that governs Buddhist monastic affairs in Burma has restored the status of three monks who were released from prison last month after serving more than four years behind bars for their involvement in the 2007 Saffron Revolution.

The state-controlled Maha Nayaka Sangha Council made the decision on Wednesday after the three monks, who were among dozens detained for taking part in massive demonstrations in September 2007, applied for official recognition of their status on Jan. 27.

The monks said they made the request as a preliminary step toward reopening their monasteries, which have been closed since their arrest.

“I applied for permission to reopen my monastery yesterday after the council officially recognized my status as a monk,” said U Pandavansa, speaking to The Irrawaddy on Thursday.

The three monks—including U Indaka, the abbot of Maggin Monastery in Rangoon's Thingangyun Township, one of the focal points of the 2007 protests—were told that the monasteries could be reopened within a week.

Recently several monks were reprimanded by local authorities for entering the padlocked Maggin Monastery.

U Gambira, another prominent monk who was released on Jan. 13 along with hundreds of other political prisoners, said he hasn't responded yet to a notification from the Maha Nayaka Sangha Council informing him that he needs to officially restore his monastic status, although he said may do so after Feb. 3.

“We are monks. We were arrested illegally,” he said, speaking to The Irrawaddy. He added that he would accept the council's decisions if they are “fair according to the rules of Buddhism.”

Meanwhile, a planned ordination ceremony for around 20 other formerly imprisoned monks at Magwe Monastery in Rangoon was called off after the Maha Nayaka Sangha Council expressed concern that the event would be too politicized.