Dec 8 - In a monastery in central Myanmar, a Buddhist monk, Wathawa, rallies his militia with a cry: "What's our spirit like?"
In recent years, ultranationalist monks incited violence against Muslims in Myanmar, including riots that killed 25 people in 2013 and army-led attacks against the Rohingya minority. In public comments and state media broadcasts as recently as November, the military has acknowledged forming militia in some villages "based on their demands", but has denied arming monks. It denies targeting civilians, saying its operations are against "terrorists". A military spokesman did not respond to Reuters' requests for comment about its relationship with the militia.
"There is no guarantee for our lives," Wathawa said. "Even though I'm talking to you today, tomorrow might be the day I die." In one recent video from a trip to Russia — President Vladimir Putin is one of the junta leader's few remaining allies — Sitagu can be seen beating drums alongside Russian monks and chanting, "Peace and glory to the great country of Russia".
Ten people interviewed by Reuters in cities including Yangon and Mandalay, among them a grocery store owner and a director of commercials, said they had changed the way they donated to monks. Some were scrutinizing monks more closely to avoid aiding those that support the junta, while others had eschewed the centuries-old tradition completely.
Myanmar monks teach laypeople who in turn provide them with essentials such as food and clothing. But monkhoods that built strong relationships with the military were awarded gifts like land, cars, and monasteries, said Diamond, without identifying the beneficiaries. "My life has been spent in prestigious monastic Buddhist centers in Myanmar," he said. "Since I was 14 years old, I read books that condemned other religions."
Despite standing beside the army as it oversaw the deadly 2017 purge of 730,000 ethnic Rohingya, the Suu Kyi government later attempted to rein in ultranationalist Ma Ba Tha monks who publicly endorsed the violence. Ma Ba Tha was disbanded and Wirathu, a monk who toured the country inciting hatred of Muslims, was jailed for sedition.
against the Muslim minority expelled from Myanmar...
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Islamic Regime just executed a protestor this morning who had been charged with 'waging war against god' or Moharebeh. Mohsen_Shekari, 23, was accused of blocking the street and injuring a guard. محسن_شکاری
They are specialized in killing Muslims only
srilankan junta is on the wane at the recieving end, despite pyrrhic victory in 2009
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