Senior British monk detained in Myanmar monastery row: diplomat

[webfact]

Senior British monk detained in Myanmar monastery row: diplomat

YANGON, June 18, 2014 (AFP) - A senior British monk is being held in a notorious Myanmar prison, British diplomats confirmed Tuesday, one of a host of Buddhist clerics rounded up during a recent police raid on a monastery.

Some 20 monks, including Uttara who was visiting from Britain, were arrested last week when scores of police and monks descended on a Yangon monastery in a controversial late-night swoop apparently triggered by a dispute over ownership of the property.

A spokesman for the British embassy in Yangon told AFP that consular officials had visited Uttara in the city's Insein prison early Tuesday and would attend his next court hearing expected on June 20.

"We have pressed the authorities to ensure that he has full access to legal representation and medical assistance as required," the spokesman said.

Uttara is believed to have moved to Britain in the early 1990s, gaining citizenship and becoming a prominent figure in the Myanmar British community. He was back in Myanmar on a working visit.

The monastery raid has generated heated debate in Myanmar, where monks are revered, after members of the state-backed clergy were seen taking part in the June 10 raid.

While some 15 monks were released a day later, Uttara and four other monks remain in custody. They have been unfrocked, or stripped of their clerical status, after being accused of failing to obey orders from senior monks and defaming the religion.

According to a report last week in the state-run English-language newspaper New Light of Myanmar, the ownership dispute stems from a 2002 decision by the then-ruling junta to hand the monastery over to national Buddhist authorities.


-- (c) Copyright AFP 2014-06-18

[Asiantravel]

This is disgraceful!

This country has still got a very long way to go before it can be regarded as being anywhere near democratic and ready for major investment.

I can remember in the early 1990s when Vietnam gradually opened up and even a communist country like that would never have imprisoned people who are meant to be revered for such an innocuous matter.

[Emster23]

many Buddhist texts refer to monks as "homeless wanderers". Guess that will really fit after this one. Gee, monks want to be at a monastery? Outrageous! Put an end to that! "the ownership dispute stems from a 2002 decision by the then-ruling junta to hand the monastery over to national Buddhist authorities." and reference to "state backed clergy" Methinks they have been snared by daughters of Mara. If the state is part of this (as it seems to be) then you know money is in there somewhere. This action seems far more defaming to Buddhism than anything the arrested monks may have done.

[transam]

So the guy wasn't English, Scots or Welsh............Glad that was sorted out............

[khaowong1]

This is disgraceful!

This country has still got a very long way to go before it can be regarded as being anywhere near democratic and ready for major investment.

I can remember in the early 1990s when Vietnam gradually opened up and even a communist country like that would never have imprisoned people who are meant to be revered for such an innocuous matter.

Well except for Thich Nhat Hanh, I don't think he's still allowed back in Vietnam.. I may be wrong..

[Asiantravel]

This is disgraceful!

This country has still got a very long way to go before it can be regarded as being anywhere near democratic and ready for major investment.

I can remember in the early 1990s when Vietnam gradually opened up and even a communist country like that would never have imprisoned people who are meant to be revered for such an innocuous matter.

Well except for Thich Nhat Hanh, I don't think he's still allowed back in Vietnam.. I may be wrong..

He was allowed back in 2005 and again in 2007, according to Wikipedia

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Th%C3%ADch_Nh%E1%BA%A5t_H%E1%BA%A1nh

[khaowong1]

This is disgraceful!

This country has still got a very long way to go before it can be regarded as being anywhere near democratic and ready for major investment.

I can remember in the early 1990s when Vietnam gradually opened up and even a communist country like that would never have imprisoned people who are meant to be revered for such an innocuous matter.

Well except for Thich Nhat Hanh, I don't think he's still allowed back in Vietnam.. I may be wrong..

He was allowed back in 2005 and again in 2007, according to Wikipedia

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Th%C3%ADch_Nh%E1%BA%A5t_H%E1%BA%A1nh

You are correct.. and with a whole bunch of controversy.. The govt. of Vietnam is still treading the religious line very carefully.

[danglars]

This is disgraceful!

This country has still got a very long way to go before it can be regarded as being anywhere near democratic and ready for major investment.

I can remember in the early 1990s when Vietnam gradually opened up and even a communist country like that would never have imprisoned people who are meant to be revered for such an innocuous matter.

yes only when they achieve real democracy only then can the has a real US backed military coupnone of this sham military dictatorship stuff that they got already,.

[Somtamnication]

Religion. The creator of wars. Just sayin'.

[Pete Beale]

So the guy wasn't English, Scots or Welsh............Glad that was sorted out............

Must be Irish then.

[boomerangutang]

So the guy wasn't English, Scots or Welsh............Glad that was sorted out............

Must be Irish then.

or Isle of Wight, or Isle of Wong. Or maybe his resident address is that outpost in the Channel where the pirate radio show was broadcast.

[transam]

So the guy wasn't English, Scots or Welsh............Glad that was sorted out............

Must be Irish then.

Nooo, they ain't British...

[Pete Beale]

So the guy wasn't English, Scots or Welsh............Glad that was sorted out............

Must be Irish then.

Nooo, they ain't British...

They are if they're from Northern Ireland.

[transam]

So the guy wasn't English, Scots or Welsh............Glad that was sorted out............

Must be Irish then.

Nooo, they ain't British...

They are if they're from Northern Ireland.

You sure about that........?

My passport says United Kingdom AND N.Ireland.........

[Pete Beale]

You sure about that........?

My passport says United Kingdom AND N.Ireland.........

Your passport says the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. If you're a citizen of the United Kingdom then you're British.

[transam]

You sure about that........?

My passport says United Kingdom AND N.Ireland.........

Your passport says the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. If you're a citizen of the United Kingdom then you're British.

Yep, but not from N.Ireland. If N.Ireland was British then there would be no need for the N.Ireland bit eh. I don't know the legalities but to me it states N.Ireland is not British. Sure someone will clarify..........