Senior Abbots Request Security During Monk Exams

2 April 2008, Sittwe: Senior abbots in Sittwe, most of whom support the military government, requested a security deployment from the authority be sent to Sittwe during the monks' examination to be held on 2 April, said a monk who refused to be named.

The request was made on Friday by senior abbots during a meeting regarding the monks' exam between Sittwe Township chairman and the abbots, after rumors of demonstrations began spreading in Sittwe.

The monk said, "There is a rumor in Sittwe that monks will stage a demonstration during the exam, so the senior abbots requested the authority deploy additional security forces in Sittwe."

The security in Sittwe is likely to be tightened again by the authority upon the abbots' request, in light of the Saffron Revolution protests that happened last fall.

The monk, who was in attendance at the meeting, said, "It will be impossible for demonstrations to emerge in Sittwe during the period of the monks' exam, because the authority is preparing to deploy additional security forces in many key places in Sittwe."

In addition to the spreading rumors that a demonstration will be staged by monks in Sittwe, the number of monks registering for the exams has also decreased from last years numbers.

The monk said, "I think 20 or 30 percent of monks will be enrolling in this year's exam, and many monks have neglected to participate in the exam this year."

According to a source close to monks, about 1,000 Arakanese monks will participate in this year's exam in Sittwe, whereas last year saw nearly 3,000 monks participating.

The examinee rate has been reduced this year for two reasons. The first is that many of the monks who were pushed back to their respective villages by authorities after the monk-led Saffron Revolution do not want to return to Sittwe during this crucial period for fear of arrest. The second reason is that many monks want to boycott the government-backed exam after the military government killed many monks and civilians, and arrested many more, during and after last year's protests.

Narinjara News