YANGON’s Monkey‑Business: The Wirathu Wham‑Jam
Imagine a fight where the finalists are monks, a crown‑pin, and a court that decides to do the whole “in‑absentia” thing. That’s exactly the drama unfolding in Yangon, where the most vocal Buddhist nationalist group, the Buddha Dhamma Parahita Foundation (formerly Ma Ba Tha), is calling out the latest sedition charges on one of its own legend, Wirathu.
Why All the Heat?
- Last month, police threw a big red “arrest” envelope at Wirathu—though he’s been more like a hide‑and‑seek champion, slipping around every cop’s reach.
- The monk’s billboards of “anti‑Muslim” flame‑throwing have been lit ever since Myanmar kicked its heavy military‑rule shackles and let Facebook run amok.
- His playbook? Raising the Rohingya—under the 2017 military crackdown—and stepping on sleeping‑beauty Aung Suu Kyi.
- Think of it as a mix of political zeal and a piano‑sized revenge note against the Nobel laureate. The foundation swears the din is merely “positive criticism.”
Where the Monks Meet the Court
Back at the group’s annual meet, Mya Nan Sayataw clucked like a proud rooster: “The government’s shooting in the dark—these sedition tags are outlaw fire.” He pointed out the clock‑ticking penalty of a life‑sentence for Wirathu. So, even if the monk’s a “monster” for many, there’s a chance the judiciary might just sit it out.
In true dramatic irony, the citizens of Yangon should expect to see a court in‑absentia session on Tuesday—Wirathu gets to avoid the spotlights entirely, legally speaking.
Who’s in the Chair, Who’s in the Crowd?
- Tun Nyunt of the Ministry of Religious Affairs & Culture was the voice telling, “If a monk breaks the law, he gets the same legal smackdown.”
- For the day’s kung‑fu‑style spectacle: 2,300 monks & nuns and 3,000 lay people stood by the monastery’s porch, chanting, reciting, and tossing donations into a steaming pot of spiritual karma.
- A military commander, likely the rebellious rebel best‑friend, handed in a cool $20,000 (about US$20k)—in a flash of their deep‑rooted loyalty to the monks’ cause.
- Some folks in full uniform also scrolled by; the Buddhist nationalist clubs are known to have a handful of army buddies.
Behind the Infrastructural Curtain
These group chapters—not just a stream of incense—run schools, community services, and legal aid. And for the legal geeks, members have handed up “ban‑law” for interfaith marriage and conversion. Classic case of “education” meets “hard‑law.”
Book Club: “Londonistan” Edition
Outside topics for sensible scholars? No, the first‑day tables offered a pick‑up of “The People Who Want to Eradicate Myanmar”, a paperback jam that whacks a chapter titled “Londonistan: Swallowed by Islam.” The language is less “world view” and more “star‑flavored political hate‑spin.”
It’s a story as bizarre as a monk gambling on a monastery’s prayer office. But as the court drags its hands, the city—once the “opposite of a farmhouse” for its speakers—seems to become an unholy arena where faith, politics, and power juggle for the sweet, sweet marble of control.
End Note
If you thought Buddhists ran the world from a simple altar, think again. Behind the robes, the script is brewed with life‑threatening politics, legal dossiers, and sudden monk‑phone calls. One thing’s for sure: Yangon’s never had a more suspicious battlefield—monks, soldiers, 3000 laid‑offs, and the king of sedition swirling all together. Let’s watch it, and maybe learn that: even a monk can get a death‑sentence if it feels lumpy enough. We’re all listening, and maybe some of the style being forced on us will turn these prayers into a solo for the story.
