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Myanmar

Burmese voices: Social action in Karen State

One of the highlights of Refugees International's recent visit to Burma was a visit with a Buddhist monk in Karen State in southeastern Burma. The RI team reached him through a Christian aid worker who was collaborating with him on health and education programs. We jumped at the opportunity to get a view from the local level as to what kind of social action work was being initiated through the Buddhist clergy.

We met with the monk in a large immaculate reception room with a tile floor. Normally it is inappropriate to sit at the same level as a monk, but as foreign visitors we were granted the privilege of sitting together with him on mats on the floor. He squeezed us into his schedule at the end of the day between an hour-long inspirational talk to a large group of middle school students, who needed their books, pens, and notebooks blessed on the eve of their final exams, and a smaller group of families waiting for consultation and blessings.

In response to our questions, he explained that he does his social action work on a small scale, while trying to work together with other Buddhist monasteries, Church groups, and 'people of good will' from every walk of life. His particular interest is in education and small-scale development projects.

The eastern part of Karen State, along the Thai-Burma border, remains an area of active conflict and we asked the monk if he was able to access that area. He replied that while he knew that the border areas were very needy, 'the situation does not yet permit' him to reach them with his programs.

The monk has organized a Monastic Education School on the temple grounds, and has since been able to expand the program to include five additional branches, reaching a total of about 1,000 students. The program also includes a library and a computer center. Other activities organized out of the monastery include tree planting, health training, and donating funds to poor families for funerals.

According to the monk, very few monasteries are involved in humanitarian work. He was critical of monks, especially in cities, who collaborate with the military by appearing at ceremonies to bless government projects. He explained that he has been able to avoid doing this, even though it may increase suspicions about his activities and his motives.

He added that some monks go further and actually attack other monks on behalf of the military regime. 'Some monks are armed in the name of Buddhism. Buddhism has nothing to do with weapons. There is no such thing as a soldier for Buddhism.'

When asked specifically about the government's attitude towards his work, he said that he receives no support from local officials and sometimes they try to discourage him from pursuing his social action agenda. 'There are many restrictions on monks,' he told us. 'Previously there was freedom of religion in Myanmar [Burma], and outsiders assumed that Buddhism was the only free religion. But this is not so. Look at the prisons now. Only monks are there. All religions are being harassed. Buddhism is not privileged.'

He closed our discussion on an inspirational note. 'I am very patriotic for the Karen people. My first priority is to work for true peace for the Karen. The Karen have suffered the most. My second priority is for the whole world to be peaceful.'

Vice President for Policy Joel Charny visited Burma in late February and early March.