• Burmese
Thursday, July 10, 2025
No Result
View All Result
NEWSLETTER
The Irrawaddy
26 °c
Yangon
  • Home
  • News
    • Burma
    • Politics
    • World
    • Asia
    • Myanmar’s Crisis & the World
    • Ethnic Issues
    • War Against the Junta
    • Junta Cronies
    • Conflicts In Numbers
    • Junta Watch
    • Fact Check
    • Investigation
    • Myanmar-China Watch
    • Obituaries
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Opinion
    • Commentary
    • Guest Column
    • Analysis
    • Editorial
    • Stories That Shaped Us
    • Letters
  • Junta Watch
  • Ethnic Issues
  • War Against the Junta
  • In Person
    • Interview
    • Profile
  • Books
  • Donation
  • Home
  • News
    • Burma
    • Politics
    • World
    • Asia
    • Myanmar’s Crisis & the World
    • Ethnic Issues
    • War Against the Junta
    • Junta Cronies
    • Conflicts In Numbers
    • Junta Watch
    • Fact Check
    • Investigation
    • Myanmar-China Watch
    • Obituaries
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Opinion
    • Commentary
    • Guest Column
    • Analysis
    • Editorial
    • Stories That Shaped Us
    • Letters
  • Junta Watch
  • Ethnic Issues
  • War Against the Junta
  • In Person
    • Interview
    • Profile
  • Books
  • Donation
No Result
View All Result
The Irrawaddy
No Result
View All Result
Home News Burma

U Wirathu Accuses Govt of Stalling ‘Nationalist’ High School Plans

Zarni Mann by Zarni Mann
November 26, 2018
in Burma
Reading Time: 3 mins read
0 0
A A
U Wirathu attends a press conference about a school he and his supporters want to build in Patheingyi Township, Mandalay Region, on Sunday. / Zarni Mann / The Irrawaddy

U Wirathu attends a press conference about a school he and his supporters want to build in Patheingyi Township, Mandalay Region, on Sunday. / Zarni Mann / The Irrawaddy

5.8k
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

MANDALAY — Firebrand monk U Wirathu accused the government of stalling permission for a private high school in Mandalay Region’s Patheingyi Township because avowed nationalists were behind the project.

“The regional government says it is illegal to have a school compound on this land. But their refusal to let the school open is not based on that,” he told reporters at a press conference at the site on Sunday.

“It is based only on the work of the nationalists, me, U Wirathu, and members of Ma Ba Tha. If this school was going to be operated by Muslims, the government would surely allow it and even cut the ribbon at the opening ceremony.”

RelatedPosts

Nationalist Monk Joins Chinese Gambling City-Linked BGF Leader's Mass Donation

Nationalist Monk Joins Chinese Gambling City-Linked BGF Leader’s Mass Donation

March 10, 2023
6.8k
Ko Swe Win presents to the court in Maha Aungmyay Township, Mandalay Region, in July 2017. / Zaw Zaw / The Irrawaddy

Dismissal of Lawsuit Against Myanmar Now Editor Requested

June 17, 2019
4.9k
U Wirathu at an anti-Constitution amendment rally in Yangon on May 5, 2019. / Htet Wai / The Irrawaddy

Wirathu to be Tried for Sedition in Absentia

June 11, 2019
9.5k

In March 2017 the government banned U Wirathu from delivering public sermons for a year over his strident anti-Muslim rhetoric, and Facebook blocked his account in February for hate speech. The government has also outlawed the ultra-nationalist group Ma Ba Tha, which has since rebranded itself to skirt the ban.

U Wirathu said on Sunday that he and his supporters have been asking for permission to build Mahawthadar Nationalist Private High School for more than a year but were yet to receive it.

Women hold signs urging the government to let supporters of U Wirathu build a school in Patheingyi Township, Mandalay Region, in front of the already-erected gate for the planned school on Sunday. / Zarni Mann / The Irrawaddy

“This school has nothing to do with politics and has no anti-government intentions. It is only to give free education to poor children. The government is trying to oppress everything the nationalists are doing — this is not democracy,” he said.

“We cannot wait any longer, so we will begin construction regardless what happens. If the government does not follow democracy, abuses the rule of law and wants to oppress us, I will make sure to let them know who Wirathu is,” he added.

The monk said he had also written to Mandalay Region Chief Minister U Zaw Myint Maung in July to ask for permission for the school.

The letter, distributed to reporters on Sunday, says the committee set up to establish the school includes former government officials, including the personal secretary of the prior regional chief minister.

“Don’t look on these committee members and think there will be any politics or nationalism. Every one of them is focused only on education and is not thinking of politics or nationalism,” the letter says.

“If members of the NLD or the government wants to join us, you are warmly welcome, but you should keep nationalism in your minds,” it adds.

Mandalay Region government officials could not be reached for comment.

Project backers said they applied for permission to build a four-story school in Kyauk Chaw Village in mid-2017 and had hoped to open it for the 2017-2018 academic year.

They said the regional government has asked for several required documents and rejected a request to hold a groundbreaking ceremony in February.

“Since then there has been silence. We’ve sent a complaint letters to the President’s Office as well, but the President’s Office is also ignoring our complaint,” said U Myo Chit, vice president of the school’s founding committee.

He said two Mahawthadar high schools have been operating since last year, one in Yangon and another in Rakhine State.

“We believe the [Mandalay] regional government does not want to give us permission because the word “nationalist” is in the school’s name. We will not take it out to get permission, because nationalism is as important as education for children,” U Myo Chit said.

“However, we are not going to emphasize nationalism, which the government is worried about. We are only going to provide the children with free education. We will begin construction no matter what, and we will make sure the school can open in time for the 2018-2019 academic year,” he added.

Those behind the school project have already built a gate and fence around the site and a classroom where about 200 students from surrounding high schools are receiving free after-school tutoring.

Your Thoughts …
Tags: Wirathu
Zarni Mann

Zarni Mann

The Irrawaddy

Similar Picks:

Nationalist Monk Joins Chinese Gambling City-Linked BGF Leader's Mass Donation
Burma

Nationalist Monk Joins Chinese Gambling City-Linked BGF Leader’s Mass Donation

by The Irrawaddy
March 10, 2023
6.8k

Brigadier General Saw Chit Thu of the Karen Border Guard Force has organized a controversial giveaway and U Wirathu blessed...

Read moreDetails
U Wirathu speaks at the rally against amending Article 59 (f) of 2008 Constitution in Yangon on May 5, 2019. / Htet Wai / The Irrawaddy
Burma

Firebrand Monk Calls for Military Parliamentarians to be ‘Worshipped’

by Htet Kaung Lin
May 6, 2019
7.1k

At a rally in downtown Yangon, U Wirathu spoke against changes to the military-drafted Constitution and compared military parliamentarians to...

Read moreDetails
U Wirathu at an anti-Constitution amendment rally in Yangon on May 5, 2019. / Htet Wai / The Irrawaddy
Burma

Wirathu to be Tried for Sedition in Absentia

by Htun Htun
June 11, 2019
9.5k

With the ultranationalist monk’s arrest warrant expiring on Tuesday, a Yangon court has decided it will hear the case without...

Read moreDetails
U Wirathu in Mandalay in September 2015. / The Irrawaddy
Asia

Sermon Canceled Over Concern Nationalist Monk Could Stir Trouble

by Nyein Nyein
May 3, 2019
6.5k

A monthly Dhamma talk in Phuket has been canceled for fear that the featured speaker, nationalist monk U Wirathu, could...

Read moreDetails
Buddhist monks and nationalists during a rally in downtown Yangon on June 10, 2019. / The Irrawaddy
Burma

Yangon Nationalists March in Support of U Wirathu, Against ‘Oppression of Buddhism’

by Kyaw Phyo Tha
June 10, 2019
7.5k

Several hundred Buddhists and monks marched from the Shwedagon to Sule Pagoda, complaining of government oppression and praying for the...

Read moreDetails
U Wirathu attends a press conference in Yangon in 2016. / Myo Min Soe / The Irrawaddy
In Person

U Wirathu: Daw Aung San Suu Kyi a Threat to National Religion and Identity

by Zarni Mann
December 5, 2017
9.2k

Ultranationalist monk tells The Irrawaddy Buddhists will take to the streets if govt tries to implement Annan report

Read moreDetails
Load More
Next Post
A civilian wounded during clashes between the armed wings of the SSPP and the RCSS being transported by ambulance on Nov. 23, 2018. / Philanthropists without Borders Association

Three Civilian Deaths as Fighting Flares in Northern Shan

Rohingya refugees walk past a truck filled with UNHCR humanitarian supplies in the Kutupalang refugee camp near Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh, on Nov. 8, 2017. / Reuters

Rohingya Refugee Leaders in Bangladesh Call Work Strike Over ID Cards

No Result
View All Result

Recommended

37 Years and Counting: Why Has Myanmar’s Democracy Struggle Taken So Long?

37 Years and Counting: Why Has Myanmar’s Democracy Struggle Taken So Long?

7 days ago
1.3k
China’s Surveillance State Watches Everyone, Everywhere

China’s Surveillance State Watches Everyone, Everywhere

2 days ago
680

Most Read

  • Chin Resistance Tensions Boil Over as CNA Seizes Rival’s Myanmar HQ

    Chin Resistance Tensions Boil Over as CNA Seizes Rival’s Myanmar HQ

    shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Myanmar Junta Starves Last Rakhine Strongholds as AA Closes In

    shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Trump’s Tariffs to Hit Myanmar’s Garment Manufacturers Hard

    shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Myanmar Junta’s Top Russian Arms Supplier Tosses in Quake ‘Donation’

    shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • ‘Reforms Are Not Optional’: Prominent Activist Urges NUG to Act Before It’s Too Late

    shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0

Newsletter

Get The Irrawaddy’s latest news, analyses and opinion pieces on Myanmar in your inbox.

Subscribe here for daily updates.

Contents

  • News
  • Politics
  • War Against the Junta
  • Myanmar’s Crisis & the World
  • Conflicts In Numbers
  • Junta Crony
  • Ethnic Issues
  • Asia
  • World
  • Business
  • Economy
  • Election 2020
  • Elections in History
  • Cartoons
  • Features
  • Opinion
  • Editorial
  • Commentary
  • Guest Column
  • Analysis
  • Letters
  • In Person
  • Interview
  • Profile
  • Dateline
  • Specials
  • Myanmar Diary
  • Women & Gender
  • Places in History
  • On This Day
  • From the Archive
  • Myanmar & COVID-19
  • Intelligence
  • Myanmar-China Watch
  • Lifestyle
  • Travel
  • Food
  • Fashion & Design
  • Videos
  • Photos
  • Photo Essay
  • Donation

About The Irrawaddy

Founded in 1993 by a group of Myanmar journalists living in exile in Thailand, The Irrawaddy is a leading source of reliable news, information, and analysis on Burma/Myanmar and the Southeast Asian region. From its inception, The Irrawaddy has been an independent news media group, unaffiliated with any political party, organization or government. We believe that media must be free and independent and we strive to preserve press freedom.

  • Copyright
  • Code of Ethics
  • Privacy Policy
  • Team
  • About Us
  • Careers
  • Contact
  • Burmese

© 2023 Irrawaddy Publishing Group. All Rights Reserved

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
    • Burma
    • Politics
    • World
    • Asia
    • Myanmar’s Crisis & the World
    • Ethnic Issues
    • War Against the Junta
    • Junta Cronies
    • Conflicts In Numbers
    • Junta Watch
    • Fact Check
    • Investigation
    • Myanmar-China Watch
    • Obituaries
  • Politics
  • Opinion
    • Commentary
    • Guest Column
    • Analysis
    • Editorial
    • Stories That Shaped Us
    • Letters
  • Ethnic Issues
  • War Against the Junta
  • In Person
    • Interview
    • Profile
  • Business
    • Economy
    • Business Roundup
  • Books
  • Donation

© 2023 Irrawaddy Publishing Group. All Rights Reserved

This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used. Visit our Privacy and Cookie Policy.