Monks Vow to March Against Rangoon Projects After Govt Breaks Promise

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Monks Vow to March Against Rangoon Projects After Govt Breaks Promise
By KYAW PHYO THA / THE IRRAWADDY

RANGOON — A Buddhist organization opposing five developments near the Shwedagon Pagoda in Rangoon have vowed to resume their campaign after the government failed to meet their demand of an official hiatus.

Monday’s announcement by the Society to Protect the Shwedagon, a movement borne of a nationalist Buddhist group known as the Ma Ba Tha, threatened to “ex-communicate” the government if it did not put a stop to projects near the sacred site.

The Ma Ba Tha, an acronym for the Association for the Protection of Race and Religion, launched a public campaign against the projects—a group of projects including the controversial Dagon City—in early June, claiming that major developments could cause structural damage to the pagoda.

Led in part by well-known monk U Pamoukka, the Society to Protect the Shwedagon was established to carry out signature campaigns, raise awareness and organize public demonstrations in defense of the monument.

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