• Burmese
Thursday, December 7, 2023
No Result
View All Result
NEWSLETTER
The Irrawaddy
28 °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
    • Obituaries
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Opinion
    • Commentary
    • Guest Column
    • Analysis
    • Editorial
    • Letters
  • Junta Watch
  • Ethnic Issues
  • Features
  • 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
    • Obituaries
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Opinion
    • Commentary
    • Guest Column
    • Analysis
    • Editorial
    • Letters
  • Junta Watch
  • Ethnic Issues
  • Features
  • In Person
    • Interview
    • Profile
  • Books
  • Donation
No Result
View All Result
The Irrawaddy
No Result
View All Result
Home News Burma

U Wirathu Leads Protest in Solidarity with Dhammakaya Temple

by Zarni Mann
February 24, 2017
in Burma
Reading Time: 2 mins read
A A
Buddhist monks marched in Mandalay on Thursday after praying for their Thai counterparts in Bangkok’s Dhammakaya Temple. / U Wirathu / Facebook

Buddhist monks marched in Mandalay on Thursday after praying for their Thai counterparts in Bangkok’s Dhammakaya Temple. / U Wirathu / Facebook

5.7k
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

MANDALAY — Nationalist Buddhist monk U Wirathu led a prayer and protest at the Mahamuni Pagoda in Mandalay on Thursday to condemn the Thai government’s raid on the Dhammakaya Temple in Bangkok.

Monks and local residents held photos of the 72-year-old abbot Phra Dhammachayo—who is wanted by Thai police on charges of money laundering—and signs saying “pray for Buddhists of Thailand” and “Sasana Destroyer Prayut’s government, Get out immediately from Dhammakaya.”

RelatedPosts

Myanmar Junta Asks China to Pressure Brotherhood Alliance to End Offensive

Myanmar Junta Asks China to Pressure Brotherhood Alliance to End Offensive

December 7, 2023
26
UN Calls for Urgent Action to Stop Arms Flow to Myanmar Junta as Civilian Casualties Soar

UN Calls for Urgent Action to Stop Arms Flow to Myanmar Junta as Civilian Casualties Soar

December 7, 2023
177
Kawkareik Civilians Suffer in Myanmar Junta Bombardments

Kawkareik Civilians Suffer in Myanmar Junta Bombardments

December 7, 2023
182

“We are showing solidarity with the Buddhist monks of Dhammakaya and praying peace will come upon Dhammakaya and Phra Dhammachayo,” said Ma Ba Tha leader U Wirathu, who later claimed that 200 people attended the demonstration.

Thai police accuse Phra Dhammachayo of accepting US$40 million stolen from a credit union and originally sought to arrest him in June last year.

Last week the Thai military government ordered emergency powers to be used in the search and authorities faced off with monks and supporters at the temple.

“I believe the incident is politically motivated as the former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra and his sister Yingluk were disciples of Phra Dhammachayo,” U Wirathu told The Irrawaddy after the event.

“I know Phra Dhammachayo and his Dhammakaya well, they are Buddhist monks with strict discipline and I believe he has no relation to the money laundering,” he added.

Dhammakaya Temple organized a mass donation in 2015 to strengthen religious ties between Burma and Thailand and awarded Buddhist nationalist group Ma Ba Tha an honorary award for safeguarding religion in 2016.

“The accusations of the government of Thailand are a great insult to the abbot who is enthusiastically working for the flourishing of Buddhism and nationalism which is vital for the country,” said U Wirathu.

“We condemn the government of Thailand for this ugly action against Buddhism and request the government of Thailand to leave Dhammakaya and let Phra Dhammachayo, who is innocent, live in peace again,” he added.

Nationalist Buddhist monks in Rangoon were reportedly planning to stage a protest at the Embassy of Thailand.

Your Thoughts …
Tags: Ma Ba ThaMandalayThailandU Wirathu
Previous Post

President Accepts Resignation of Mon State Chief Minister

Next Post

Burma’s National Education Plan Focuses on Lifelong Learning

Zarni Mann

Zarni Mann

The Irrawaddy

Similar Picks:

Myanmar Junta Demands Expats Pay Tax Before Renewing Passports

Myanmar Junta Demands Expats Pay Tax Before Renewing Passports

October 19, 2023
7.9k
Thailand Sentences 7 to Jail for Protesting Myanmar Coup

Thailand Sentences 7 to Jail for Protesting Myanmar Coup

August 24, 2023
4.2k
--

‘Broken Tooth’: The Face of Chinese Investment in Myanmar

July 17, 2023
16.2k
Pondering Future Avenues for Myanmar NUG’s Engagement With Thailand

Pondering Future Avenues for Myanmar NUG’s Engagement With Thailand

September 7, 2023
3.2k
Junta Watch: Cash-Starved Regime Rewards Tax Informants; Min Aung Hlaing Harangues Law Enforcers; and More

Junta Watch: Cash-Starved Regime Rewards Tax Informants; Min Aung Hlaing Harangues Law Enforcers; and More

August 12, 2023
3.2k
Myanmar Junta’s Message Is Clear: No Intention of Reducing Violence

Myanmar Junta’s Message Is Clear: No Intention of Reducing Violence

August 24, 2023
3.1k
Load More
Next Post
Daw Aung San Suu Kyi delivers an address at the launch of the national education plan in Naypyidaw. / Htet Naing Zaw / The Irrawaddy

Burma’s National Education Plan Focuses on Lifelong Learning

Ethnic armed group representatives gather in Panghsang on Feb. 22, 2017. / Myanmar War News / Facebook

UWSP Criticizes the Government Peace Process at Ethnic Summit

No Result
View All Result

Recommended

Myanmar Regime Stops Fuel Supplies to Yangon Factories

Myanmar Regime Stops Fuel Supplies to Yangon Factories

2 days ago
8.7k
As Myanmar’s Junta Loses Control, Its Coup Leader Ratchets Up His Blame Game

As Myanmar’s Junta Loses Control, Its Coup Leader Ratchets Up His Blame Game

6 days ago
8.2k

Most Read

  • Myanmar Junta Boss Tries to Drive Wedge Between Ethnic Armies, Civilians

    Myanmar Junta Boss Tries to Drive Wedge Between Ethnic Armies, Civilians

    shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Myanmar Junta Uses Chemical Warfare: Arakan Army

    shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Over 300 Civilians Reportedly Killed as Retreating Myanmar Military Ups Atrocities

    shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Arakan Army Declares Seizure of Major Myanmar Junta Base

    shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • ‘Hundreds’ of Civil Servants Desert Myanmar Junta in Sagaing as Resistance Offensive Expands

    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

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
    • Obituaries
  • Politics
  • Opinion
    • Commentary
    • Guest Column
    • Analysis
    • Editorial
    • Letters
  • Ethnic Issues
  • Features
  • In Person
    • Interview
    • Profile
  • Business
    • Economy
    • Business Roundup
  • 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.