Subdued but Unbowed

However, Pakokku monks have continued the Patta-nikujana protest, in which no alms will be accepted from members of the military and their supporters. Also, some small-scale protests continue to occur through anti-regime poster campaigns around the Sasana Biman halls.

Sangha indignation runs deep. When the division’s religious authorities donated rice and cooking oil to some monastic schools on December 1 as a peace offering, the monks refused the donations and threw the items on the road. The monks were also outraged by the news that Rangoon authorities had closed Maggin Monastery, which also served as a hospice for HIV/AIDS patients. 

“These monks are unique,” said a resident living near the monasteries. “They are still maintaining a religious boycott. They don’t accept anything from the government. They threw all the donations from the district authorities onto the road. The local residents would not pick up the donations, even though many are very hungry. It was on the road untouched for a long time until some USDA members and municipal workers removed the items.”

In another move designed to weaken the sangha, authorities have restricted the travel of monks. A monk who wants to travel must file an application and get permission from the District Administration office.

Another serious blow came when the military authorities ordered classes to be closed and the student-monks to return to their homes. Many have not yet returned to the monasteries.

“In our monastery, about 740 monks were here last year before the demonstrations. Now, most of the monks have returned home and only about 220 monks are at the monastery,” said a monk at A-Lel Taik.

Most Pakokku monks have totally rejected the authority of the abbot of Kya-Khat-Wine Monastery in Pegu, who spoke out against a sangha protest and encouraged authorities to crackdown on protesting monks. Pakokku monks say he has committed “a colossal religious offense” called “the third Parajica.”  A third Parajica means a monk has been rejected and can never return to the sangha.

A leading monk in Pakokku told The Irrawaddy that fellow monks in other locations must be bold and keep the monk-led protests alive in the country.

For now, he said, “We have struggled as much as we can.” But he added, “We still keep up the alms boycott.”