King Zero: What is the All Burma Monks Allian,and who are its founders?

Wednesday, February 9, 2011

What is the All Burma Monks Allian,and who are its founders?

The All Burma Monks Alliance (ABMA) is commonly known as the group of monks that organized and initiated the peaceful protest known as the Saffron Revolution in Burma 2007.

Recently, there has been some confusion about who really founded this organization, and how is it connected to the International Burmese Monks Organization (IBMO). These issues became even more difficult to understand after another organization, also calling itself the All Burma Monks Alliance, was announced outside of Burma after the Saffron Revolution by Burmese monks living in other countries. These monks have attained prominence since the release of the documentary “Burma VJ” and have made good connections with the media.

Sangha Samammghi Meeting in Mandalay. From left: King Zero, U Aubhatha, U Kheminda (K Kesara)

The original All Burma Monks Alliance was officially founded on 9 September 2007 by the monks U Gambira, U Kheminda, U Aubhatha, U Teja, U Pannasiri, U Issariya (a.k.a. King Zero), and U Lin. These monks had been working together long before the Saffron Revolution. They met on a regular basis to discuss how to bring about peaceful change in their homeland. They worked to educate people and monks to bring an end the extreme suffering of the Burmese people.
The original All Burma Monks Alliance (ABMA) has two signs, and was first named All Burma Sangha Union. This is because Ashin Issariya had been living and working in the Sangha Union in Mandalay, and U Gambira had been living and working in the “All Burma Youth Monks Union” in Rangoon. The ABMA members came from five groups: the Sangha Samagghi (Sangha Union), Youth Monks Union, Sangha Dutha, Dharma Dutha, and Thotuzana Bhikkhu (Young Student Monks).
Together, these monks agreed on the name All Burma Monks Alliance (ABMA) for their partnership and organization.

Sangha Samammghi (Mandalay) statement, issued before ABMA was founded.

Sangha Samammghi (Mandalay) statement, issued before ABMA was officially founded.

ABMA’s first statement was issued on 6 September 2007 when Burmese troops forcibly broke up a peaceful demonstration in Pakokku and injured three monks.
U Gambira, U Lin, U Khelasa, and King Zero met and agreed on a statement handwritten by King Zero and read to the BBC by U Kheminda (U Khelasa ). This first statement was published under the name All Burma Sangha Union.
All ABMA actions had to be done secretly at this time. For example, U Gambira as well as King Zero were living under assumed names, moving from one monastery to another. Pamphlets and statements were given out and pasted to walls during the night.
During the daytime, the ABMA members stood back and watched events unfold with monks like U Nay Meinda, U Gawsita, and U Htavara taking the front lines. No one knew who the organizers behind the events were at that time. After U Gambira had given several interviews, the most asked question among the monks was, “Who is U Gambira?”
The founding members of the ABMA had to flee persecution after the brutal crackdown on the Saffron Revolution:

Ashin Gambira

Ashin Gambira was arrested on 4 November 2007. He has been sentenced to 68 years under section 295(a) and 505(b) of the Penal Code by Burma’s military regime in 2008. His sentence was later reduced to 63 years under the Electronics Law. He is now serving his sentence in Kalay Prison, Sagaing Division, Burma.
Ashin Pannasiri was arrested on 18 October 2007 in Monywa. He was sentenced to three years in prison. He escaped from Lantalang Prison on 15 September 2008 to India. He now lives in exile in New Dehli, India.
Ashin Kheminda was arrested in October 2007. He was sentenced to 35 years in prison.
Ashin Issariya (a.k.a. King Zero) escaped to Thailand on 21 October 2008 after eluding authorities for a year in hiding and surviving a week long manhunt. He now lives in exile in Mae Sot, Thailand.
Ashin Teja was arrested and is now in prison.
Ashin Aubhatha had to flee his country and is now living in exile in Mae Sot.
U Lin had to flee his country and is currently living in NuPho Refugee Camp.
Until now, statements from the original All Burma Monks Alliance have only been issued from inside Burma, which was the base of the All Burma Monks Alliance (ABMA). The founders follow strict procedures to divide work between organizations of monks inside Burma and organizations of monks in exile, who have since been united under the name International Burma Monks Organization (IBMO).
The second All Burma Monks Alliance that was announced outside of Burma by different monks (participants, but not organizers, of the Saffron Revolution) is now based in America. This organization has released several statements of its own without communicating with the original ABMA founders from inside the country.

The call issued by Ashin Issariya for unity among these two organizations remains.

: Ashin Gambira

: Sangha Samammghi Meeting in Mandalay. From left: King Zero, U Aubhatha, U Kheminda (U Kesara)

: Sangha Samammghi Meeting. From left: King Zero, U Aubhada, U Pannasiri (front)

: U Lin at the Sangha Samammghi Meeting in Mandalay.

: Email from U Gambira to King Zero

: Sangha Samammghi (Mandalay) statement, issued before ABMA was founded.

: First official Statement of ABMA

: Second official statement of ABMA

: "First of the last battle to freedom" by U Gambira from Yangon. Sent to King Zero who was living in Mandalay at that time.

: Handwritten letter from U lin to U Gambira.

: Email from U Gambira to King Zero

: ABMA document

: ABMA statement "Lawless SPDC"

: "for sassana moli"

Buddhist monks march in protest in Yangon, 24 September 2007, in the strongest show of dissent against the ruling generals in nearly two decades. More than 100,000 people flooded the streets of Yangon in two major marches that snaked their way through the nation's commercial capital led by robed monks chanting prayers of peace and compassion. MYANMAR OUT AFP PHOTO (Photo credit should read AFP/AFP/Getty Images)