Monks uncertain about examinations

Thu 25 Oct 2007
IMNA

Monks are unsure whether the Burmese military junta would allow them to sit for the annual examination in the wake of the protests against the military regime, said an abbot in a monastery.

"We are not sure whether we will have our examinations or not. We are not even sure that if there are examinations whether we should sit for it," said the abbot who had about 50 student monks before last month's protest.

All his students were ordered to go home when the junta cracked down on monk-led protests in the end of September.

For the next few days monks are going to make a list for sitting for their examinations. "I don't know what to do for the next few days. I believe there will be no examination for the monks," a Pegu monastery abbot said.

"If examinations are allowed there will be a huge drop in the number of monks appearing for it," he added.

Monks are anxious and uncertain about what to do. Some are still scared of being arrested and some believe they should not sit for the examinations.

According to abbots a majority of monks broke their Buddhist lent when they were ordered to go back to their home towns.

Thousands of monk resumed their new lent in their home town. Tomorrow is the day of concluding Buddhist lent.