Myanmar nationalist monks protest Thai crackdown on sect
Feb 24, 2017
A Buddhist nationalist group that has been accused of stirring up religious tensions in Myanmar has demonstrated outside Thailand's embassy in Myanmar to protest the Thai government's siege of the temple headquarters of a controversial Buddhist sect
YANGON, Myanmar — A Buddhist nationalist group that has been accused of stirring up religious tensions in Myanmar demonstrated Friday outside Thailand's embassy in Myanmar to protest the Thai government's siege of the temple headquarters of a controversial Buddhist sect.
The peaceful protest by more than 100 monks and supporters was organized by the Association of the Protection of Race and Religion — also known as Ma Ba Tha — a group that has been criticized for pushing an anti-Muslim agenda in mostly Buddhist Myanmar.
Thai authorities are seeking to arrest the monk who heads the Dhammakaya sect in Thailand because he allegedly accepted millions of dollars of embezzled money as a donation. Thailand's military government is believed to be hostile toward the Dhammakaya sect because it believes it supports former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who was ousted by an army coup in 2006.
"We are requesting the Thai government not to violently crack down on the Dhammakaya temple and we are doing it as we love our religion," said Win Ko Ko Latt, the leader of the Myanmar Buddhist National Network.
The protesters presented the embassy with a letter for Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-ocha saying they wanted to show the unhappiness of Myanmar citizens about the crackdown on the Dhammakaya temple. It also asked Thai authorities to lift an emergency order allowing them to blockade the temple. The sect's leaders have tried to mobilize their followers around the world to support their position.
"We are not interfering in Thailand's situation but we have to love our religion and protect the temple," said Wuntha, a Ma Ba Tha monk at the protest.
Last year, the Dhammakaya temple hosted one of Ma Ba Tha's top leaders, the monk Wirathu, for a religious event. Wirathu on Thursday led a pro-Dhammakaya demonstration in the central Myanmar city of Mandalay.
Some Dhammakaya supporters share the Buddhist fundamentalist positions espoused by Ma Ba Tha, lobbying last year for Thailand's constitution to declare Buddhism the state religion. Thai supporters of Wirathu in 2015 contributed money to have his group build a radio station in Myanmar, and in 2016 arranged for Ma Ba Tha to receive an honorary "World Buddhist Outstanding Leader Award" for safeguarding the religion.
MORE NEWS
India Vs Uruguay LIVE Score: Kick-Off! IND Hope For Quick Start
India vs Uruguay: Follow all live updates from the FIFA international friendly in Kolkata.
World Space Week 2026: Theme, history, how to celebrate and a special Pokémon twist- here's everything you need to know
World Space Week will be celebrated from October 4 to October 10, 2026, under the theme 'Rocket Revolution'. This theme emphasizes the transformation in the rocket launch industry and the rising accessibility to space. Various activities, including exhibitions and STEM projects, are planned to engage the public. Additionally, Pokémon will play a role in promoting the event through themed exhibitions and collaborations.
Chinese team creates ‘lifelike’ hydrogel that changes shape for smart devices
Chinese researchers have developed a “lifelike” shape-changing hydrogel they say could provide a platform for next-generation developments, such as flexible tissue engineering scaffolds, brain-computer interfaces and humanlike robots. Inspired by living organisms, the team created a light-triggered system called STERS, which uses liquid metal particles to generate slow, self-sustaining chemical reactions that allow a hydrogel to change its structure over time. Capable of growing and changing...
What happened inside Russia’s 'plague' lab: Was it a bioweapon leak? Here's what officials revealed about the mystery
Plague is an infectious disease caused by the bacterium Yersinia pestis. Pneumonic plague occurs when the infection affects the lungs. It can spread from one person to another through respiratory droplets.
The day the fault lines cracked: October 7’s aftershocks travelled from Israel and Gaza to Iran, Red Sea and $100 oil
It started at the Gaza border. Then came Hezbollah, Houthi attacks, rerouted ships, an Israel-Iran war, American strikes and an oil shock. Three years after October 7, the Middle East’s fault lines have cracked open far beyond where the first shots were fired.
UK police arrest a 7th man in connection with a security incident at a US-run air base
A 22-year-old man was arrested in London on suspicion of a terror offence involving a US military base. Previous arrests of five British men occurred near RAF Fairford, indicating a broader investigation. Police evacuated residents and discovered gasoline in vehicles linked to the suspects, though no explosives were found.
Inside Hollywood's biggest plot twist: How Paramount closed $110 billion Warner Bros deal to create Skydance
Paramount Skydance finalized its acquisition of Warner Bros Discovery for $110 billion after a prolonged bidding war. Following the merger, shares of Skydance began trading on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker 'SKYD'. The deal faced scrutiny and opposition from various Hollywood figures and state attorneys general concerned about job losses. Regulators permitted the transaction despite legal challenges, including lawsuits from the Writers Guild of America.
BCCI invites application for one position in men's selection committee after Ajit Agarkar's exit
The Board of Control for Cricket in India has opened applications for a position on the Men's Selection Committee. Interested candidates must have played a minimum number of matches and retired at least five years ago. The committee will be responsible for selecting the Senior National Men's Team as well as identifying and developing new talent. Members will need to scout players, attend matches, and provide performance evaluations.
Texas was expected to be a Republican stronghold. A new poll shows Democrats James Talarico and Gina Hinojosa gaining ground in two major 2026 races
Polls indicate Democrat James Talarico leads Republican Ken Paxton by six points in the U.S. Senate race. Meanwhile, Democrat Gina Hinojosa has a narrow lead over Governor Greg Abbott, with a three-point margin. Talarico's support is strong among women and younger voters, while Hinojosa performs well with similar demographic groups. Additionally, many voters oppose the rapid expansion of data centers in Texas.
