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When there were mass arrests of monks, there were some patients taking refuge in a monastery. And one male and one female patient lived there who urgently needed medical attention, but they were denied admission to a hospital and taken back to their village on the same night. They died soon after that. It really happened. I have never heard that patients who were transferred to a government hospital were well provided for.

Q: Do the patients know about such things?

A: They do. Patients have to buy everything they need, including needles. They don’t' get anything from the hospital free. I told the patients that it is all up to them. I really do not want to push them to a place that I know is not right for them. I don't want to see them suffer. Their decision is "no." They know the situation well.

Q: What are the other conditions in the hospital where they want the patients transferred?

A: I was told that patients were provided some meat, but they had to cook for themselves. Patients have to buy their own drinking water. Many patients are fully aware of the conditions there, and they don't want to go.

Q: Are there other reasons the patients do not want to go to the government-run hospital?

A: Here in our shelter we do not separate the patients. We all live here as a real family. I believe that they like the way they live here. They can feel it. We talk to each other frankly. We listen to their personal feelings, including family matters. And we try to help as much as we can. So they trust us. Patients here talk about everything from personal trouble to their business. We pay close attention to their accounts.

Q: How many patients are currently living at the shelter?

A: More than 100 patients. We are not able to provide fully for them, but they are doing fine.

Q: How will you respond if you are forcibly moved by the authorities?

A: We have already prepared everything, including a lawsuit. We won't accept it if they use force against the will of the patients. We always stand with the patients whenever we've faced such harassment. We have to defend them. Once again, we will firmly stand with them. It should be the choice of a patient. They have clearly expressed that they want to stay here.