Nothing shy about the monks

Buddhism and politics may be contradictory, but in Burma monks and political institutions have always been inseparable.

The Nation
Published on September 28, 2007


The massive show of force by tens of thousands of Buddhist monks over the past 10 days may come as a surprise to many who have come to know this nearly three thousand year-old religion for its passivity.

But according to leading Thai historians, Burmese monks have always been on the frontline in bringing political and social changes in this trouble-plagued country, in their own peaceful way, of course.

"The Burmese Sangha today is taking on a historical mission from their older generation who fought against British colonisation," said historian Charnvit Kasetsiri, who founded the Southeast Asian Studies Programme at Thammasat University.

The Burmese Sangha was in the forefront when Burma fought against British colonisation and was passed on to the generation of General Aung San, who helped free Burma from the colonial power in 1948, Charnvit said.

After the British faded, the people of Burma then had to face "domestic colonisation" by the military regime. Groups of generals have continually suppressed people and especially political movements.

Thousands of Burmese monks joined the people's uprising led by a group of student activists in 1988, in which about 3,000 protesters were killed in the military crackdown, the historian said.

The current situation shows that Burmese monks have returned to the forefront, as the students and the people's movement have been suppressed since 1988, the historian said.

Another historian, Sunait Chutintaranond said the monument of U Win Sara in the heart on Rangoon showed the political role of monks during the fight against British colonisation.

"The monument was built in honour of U Win Sara, a Burmese monk who went on hunger strike until he died in jail during British rule," Sunait said.

The Shwedagon Pagoda has been used as strategic place for the monks in their battle against the State Peace and Development Council over the past week, Sunait said.

"The spot where they were gathering to pray was the same place where King Alongphaya sat when he prayed at the pagoda. The king asked for good luck before going to war against the Mon city of Hanthawaddy," said Sunait, an expert on Burmese history.

As the world has seen from photographs, people gathered to protect the monks when they were praying at the pagoda.

But historian Charnvit said he was afraid that history would repeat itself - just like 1988, "because the Burmese military junta has never avoided using violence against any peaceful movement".

At least five monks were reportedly found dead after the military crackdown on Wednesday.

Sunait hopes the violence will not be as bad as 19 years ago.

He said that instead of using violence against the protesters led by the Buddhist monks, the Burmese junta should engage the monks in negotiating for national reconciliation.

"Monks have never completely separated themselves from politics, and this isn't the first time," he said.

But the division between state and religion is not all cut and dry. The junta still has a number of monks in their pocket to use at their disposal, Sunait said.

Many of the anti-junta monks are from the younger generation, added Sunait, who is due to give a public lecture on monks and politics in Burma.

On Monday, the state mouthpiece New Light of Myanmar ran a page one story quoting a Buddhist council calling on all the monks, mostly likely at the request of the junta, to stick to Pariyatti and Patipatti.

In other words, stay in the monastery and out of politics.

Subhatra Bhumiprabhas

The Nation