A protester holds a sword and a firework in Yangon, Myanmar, March 16, 2021.
More than 180 people have been killed in the unrest in Myanmar since the military government overthrew the democratically elected government on Feb. 1. The media reported on February 17 that Myanmar’s most powerful Buddhist monk group called on the military government to stop violence against protesters and accused the “armed minority” of abusing and killing innocent people after the junta’s coup last month.
The Central News Agency (CNA) reported that the government-appointed State Sangha Maha Nayaka Committee also issued its most direct condemnation of the military’s bloody crackdown on pro-democracy demonstrations in a draft statement, and said its members intend to stop their activities in protest.
Independent English-language media outlet Myanmar Now quoted monks who participated in a meeting of the State Sangha Maha Nayaka Committee as reporting that the committee intends to issue a final statement tomorrow after discussions with the Minister of Religious Affairs and Culture. The final statement.
Buddhist monks led the Saffron Revolution against the military government in 2007, which paved the way for democratic reforms in Burma.
Reuters was unable to reach the National Monks Monitoring Committee for comment, but their stance seems to suggest a rift with authorities in a group that normally works closely with the government.
Myanmar has been in turmoil since the junta overthrew the democratically elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi (Aung San Suu Kyi) on Feb. 1 and detained her and members of her party, drawing widespread international condemnation.
According to the Myanmar Assistance Association for Political Prisoners, more than 180 people have died so far during the crackdown on demonstrations by security forces.
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