A conversation with Ashin Issariya aka King Zero about the situation of monks in Burm

Out of prison but not free

A conversation with Ashin Issariya aka King Zero about the situation of monks in Burma
“He is only laughing lately without any reason”, Ashin Gambira’s mother Daw Yay told DVB (Democratic Voice of Burma). She is very worried about Ashin Gambira’s mental health.

Ashin Gambira, one of the main organizers of the Saffron Revolution and a leader of the All Burma Monks’ Alliance (ABMA), who had been sentenced to 68-years, for his role in the peaceful uprising of 2007, was released from prison on January 13th 2012. But does that mean he is free now? Or is any monk in Burma really free?
Since he walked through the prison gates he has been under constant watch by plain clothes police, watching and questioning his every move. It is one of the ways for the regime to tightly control monks, especially those who dare to speak out.
During his four years in prison Ashin Gambira was subjected to repeated serious physical and mental torture. He was kept under solitary confinement most of the time. He has been showing signs of brain injury after being hit with a stick on his head while a bag was placed over his head, as reported by Amnesty International. After this he has been experiencing strong headaches but instead of receiving the accurate treatment, he was injected with strong pharmaceutics to calm him down.
After his release Ashin Gambira was rearrested two times. Taken “for questioning” by police officers in the middle of the night from his monastery without informing anyone about his whereabouts. He was transported to the office of the Sangha Committee with a black bag placed over his head.
In February the government Newspaper “New Light of Myanmar” reported that the Sangha Committee had asked for legal action to be taken against Ashin Gambira because he was “under a complete political spell”. This article damaged U Gambira’s reputation and made it clear to every monastery that if U Gambira would stay at their monastery they would have to face problems with the authorities.


It became more and more difficult for Ashin Gambira to find a monastery to stay. One after the other rejected him. He finally had to disrobe because the Buddhist lent of Waso was drawing near and it is impossible for a monk in Burma to stay in a lay house during that time. He is currently staying at his parents’ house. “He is only laughing lately without any reason.” His mother Daw Yay says he is refusing to see a doctor even though his family and friends are very worried about his mental and physical health.
Ashin Gambira is not an isolated case. All monks in Burma who have been imprisoned for political activities face the same problems. Another friend of Ashin Issariya aka King Zero, who was released from prison recently and returned to live in his monastery, was forced to disrobe too.
Ashin Kovida from Nagayi Monastery, released from prison in January, was told by the Sangha Committee that he is not allowed to stay at his monastery. He received an order to leave two times. He then moved to another monastery. After the State controlled Sangha Committee talked to the abbot of that monastery, the abbot was very afraid to face pressure from the regime. Ashin Kovida had to move to another monastery again.
Ashin Issariya says: “In our country most of the people are very, very afraid. They have many problems, they do not have an education, they have never experienced freedom or democracy. This is also true for the monks. They are very afraid to be questioned by the police.”
The police will ask questions about every monk who might be political active. They ask questions and create a difficult situation for the abbot. Most abbots will then tell those monks to move, just to avoid problems.
Now we have seen the pictures of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi traveling around the country, people openly talking about politics and the triumphant win of the NLD at the historic by-elections. But, “it is difficult for the outside world to understand the real situation in our country”, says Ashin Issariya. “Until now our country has not changed. The economic situation is still the same, there is no rule of law. It is the same as before.”
“The outside world may think that, because the NLD can participate in the parliament now, our country has changed. The regime gave the people a small chance to speak about politics and share ideas. But on the other hand the regime still controls everything else very tightly. We are not free.”
“The situation has not changed. The constitution was written only to benefit the military. The military always holds 25 percent of the seats in the parliament. Those military representatives are chosen carefully. Recently the soldier who gave orders to shoot monks during the 2007 Saffron Revolution was elected as a member of parliament.”
Four months ago Buddhist monk U Ya Seina aka Mau Min Zoo wrote a book about how to improve the country from a Buddhist point of view. He asked permission from the authorities to publish the book but it was banned.
One month ago the state appointed Sangha Committee gave out a new directive. It is now forbidden for monks who preach the Dhamma, to talk about the improvement of the country. Monks are only allowed to talk about the teachings of the Buddha. This is difficult to follow because the teachings of the Buddha include speeches about daily life and moral conduct, which effects the state of a country. State control of all monastic activities has increased continually since 2007.
Another order says monks who have been released from prison have to apply to the Sangha Committee to get permission to re-ordain. King Zero says, “this shouldn’t be.” According to Theravada tradition there is no such rule, a monk can join the order again anytime, he doesn’t need any permission. But monks inside Burma are still very afraid to speak out against the Sangha Committee.
http://www.thebestfriend.org/2012/05/01/out-of-prison-but-not-free/#more-12103