Buddhist monks call on AA to release four detained abbots in Mrauk-U

By Admin 12 Oct 2023

DMG Newsroom
12 October 2023, Mrauk-U

Four Buddhist monks in Mrauk-U have been detained by the Arakan Army (AA) for more than one year and remain incommunicado, according to local Buddhist monks.

The detained Buddhist monks have been identified as Venerable Wunnathara, the abbot of Myo Oo Gaung Monastery; Ven Kaythara, abbot of Nanmyo Monastery; Htayrawuntha, abbot of Lakwetaung Monastery; and Dhammapiya, abbot of Shwesiwa Monastery.

The Arakan Army arrested the four monks on suspicion of having ties to the Arakan Liberation Party (ALP) on August 22, 2022.

The four Buddhist monks haven’t been seen or heard from since their arrest and their whereabouts remain unknown, said Venerable Wunnathami, the acting abbot of Myo Oo Gaung Monastery.

“I have not been in contact with the four detained abbots. I want them released as soon as possible. IDPs relied on the detained Buddhist monks for their livelihoods. IDPs have been facing difficulties since their arrest,” the monk added.

Myo Oo Gaung IDP camp is home to about 800 people from more than 190 households, and IDPs are struggling to make ends meet as relief supplies to the displacement camps have dwindled.

“As an abbot, not being allowed to live in his monastery during the period of Buddhist Lent is very sad. I want the abbots to be able to live at their monasteries during the period of Buddhist lent,” said U Sobita, the acting abbot of Shwesiwa Monastery.

Two others — one Buddhist monk and a novice — who were arrested along with the four abbots on August 18 were released on September 5.

The four abbots detained by the AA should be released as soon as possible, said a Buddhist monk in Mrauk-U.

“The township Sangha Maha Nayaka Committee should warn the abbots before the arrest in advance. I think AA officials did as they wanted,” the Buddhist monk added.

DMG was unable to obtain comment from AA spokesman U Khaing Thukha, whose organisation has a history of controversial detentions.

Lieutenant Colonel Khaing Paw Lin and Maung Soe Min Naing, a Grade 8 student, were taken from their home by members of the United League of Arakan/Arakan Army (ULA/AA) in the Arakan State capital Sittwe on August 2, 2022. The duo has not been released so far.

The AA said in August 2022 that some ALP members were arrested and interrogated, then released.

Four members of the ALP who were detained by the Arakan Army on August 10, 2020, were released 10 days after their arrest.