Ma Ba Tha monks declare political independence By Aung Kyaw Min | Friday, 27 June 2014 Nationalist monks pushing for controversial protection of religion laws have promised to ensure their activities do not support any single politician or political party, and condemned accusations that they are working for the political interests of others. Members of the Committee for the Protection of Nationality and Religion, better known as Ma Ba Tha, made the promise at a two-day event on June 21-22 to mark the first anniversary of the groups founding. The event, which was held at Aung San Monastery in Insein township, brought together more than 2000 monks, nuns and laypeople, was also attended by the head of the State Sangha Maha Nayaka Committee, Bhamo Sayadaw, who said his committee would continue to work together with Ma Ba Tha on the protection of race and religion in Myanmar. He added that the two organisations had cooperated on the drafting of the interfaith marriage law in March 2014. Ma Ba Tha has attracted controversy for its affiliation with the 969 movement, which critics say is inherently anti-Muslim, as well as four laws it argues are necessary to protect Buddhism and Burmese ethnicity. One of these laws would ban Buddhist women from marrying men of other faiths, while another would force people wishing to change their religion to seek permission from township officials. Some observers have suggested that the monks are being used to build support for conservative political groups at the expense of the more liberal National League for Democracy, but this was emphatically rejected. Ma Ba Tha members said the interfaith marriage law was only designed to protect the human rights of Myanmars women. The interfaith marriage law is not designed to help groups get votes in the 2015 election and Ma Ba Tha is not being supported by anyone or supporting any political party. Well-known leaders of Ma Ba Tha … are participating in enacting the law because they are well aware that it is really necessary for Buddhist women, said Ma Ba Tha member Ashin Dalwiyedar Biwuntha. The marriage law has been criticised by more than 100 local and international civil society organisations, who have described the law as disgraceful and warned it would invite international ridicule. But Sayadaw U Dhammapiya said these groups were ignoring the threat posed by Islam. Those objecting to the interfaith marriage law said it is a breach of human rights … Why do they stay silent about Islamic law, which doesnt allow [Muslims] to marry followers and different faiths and forces girls to convert to their religion even if she doesnt want to? Its a breach of human rights, isnt it? he said. Another committee member, Dhammacakka U Maung Maung, said the laws are essential for the peace process and to prevent conflicts in Myanmar. During the event Ma Ba Tha leaders also touched on the Mahasantisukha Monastery controversy, declaring that they held no official line on the June 10 raid because of its policy of not interfering with Sangha committee activities. We feel happy and sad about the Maharsantisukha [issue], said U Dhammapiya. Happy because we were asked by the people to comment on the case but sorry because we cant interfere with the [State Sangha Maha Nayaka Committee] according to Ma Ba Thas policy. However, several prominent Ma Ba Tha members, including deputy leader Sitagu Sayadaw, U Wirathu and U Parmaukkha, have been vocal critics of the raid and lent support to five monks who were subsequently charged.
Posted on: Sat, 28 Jun 2014 06:17:16 +0000
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