Buddhist monks sue Burma minister over 'use of chemicals on protesters'

The Guardian, March 16, 2015

Human rights group Justice Trust claims that 57 monks suffered severe burns after police broke up demonstration at a mine in 2012

Rangoon, Burma -- Buddhist monks have prepared a lawsuit against Burma’s interior minister that accuses police of using poisonous chemicals to break up a protest in 2012 and inflicting severe burns on demonstrators.

According to the Justice Trust, a human rights group working in Burma, the case will be a test of the government’s commitment to political reform.

The organisation claims that more than 100 monks needed hospital treatment for their injuries, and while 57 suffered deep burns requiring long-term medical care when police forcibly ended the demonstration at the country’s biggest mine near the ancient capital of Mandalay.

According to the monks and media reports, police lobbed tear gas and phosphorus grenades to disperse the protesters. However, the government has maintained that it used only tear gas and water cannon.

The Justice Trust said on Monday that it was supporting the monks in their case against Lt Gen Ko Ko, the home affairs minister.

Aung Thane, a lawyer with the group, said the monks had asked police last week to register a first information report, the first step in seeking legal redress, but this has not yet been done. They have also sent a letter to Burma’s president, Thein Sein, asking that the case be allowed to go to court, he added.

The home affairs ministry did not respond to requests for comment.

A semi-civilian government took power in Burma in 2011 after 49 years of military rule, but has struggled to deal with civilian unrest and has been accused of backsliding in its commitment to reform.

The mine is operated by Myanmar Wanbao, which is owned by the Chinese weapons manufacturer China North Industries Corp, and the Union of Myanmar Economic Holdings Ltd (UMEHL), a vast holding company belonging to the military.
Advertisement

Villagers and monks were holding sit-in protests against a $1bn (£680m) expansion of the mine they said had evicted them from their land when the police action took place. The monks say it has destroyed or damaged the holy sites of a famous Buddhist teacher who died in 1923.

An order to clear the protest sites came from “our superiors” in the home affairs ministry, which oversees the police and the Sagaing division government, police Lt Col Thura Thwin Ko Ko told Reuters in 2012.

Tikha Nyana, a monk who suffered burns to 60% of his body and underwent surgery in neighbouring Thailand, said: “We’re trying to file this case because we want to show the people that we shouldn’t tolerate such injustice.”

Local residents have continued to protest against the Letpadaung mine in Monywa, about 60 miles (100km) west of Mandalay, saying that thousands of acres of land have been confiscated to enable the project to proceed.

We Need Your Help to Train the
Buddhist AI Chat Bot NORBU!
(Neural Operator for Responsible Buddhist Understanding)

For Malaysians and Singaporeans, please make your donation to the following account:

Account Name: Bodhi Vision
Account No:. 2122 00000 44661
Bank: RHB

The SWIFT/BIC code for RHB Bank Berhad is: RHBBMYKLXXX
Address: 11-15, Jalan SS 24/11, Taman Megah, 47301 Petaling Jaya, Selangor
Phone: 603-9206 8118

Note: Please indicate your name in the payment slip. Thank you.

Dear Friends in the Dharma,

We seek your generous support to help us train NORBU, the word's first Buddhist AI Chat Bot.

Here are some ways you can contribute to this noble cause:

One-time Donation or Loan: A single contribution, regardless of its size, will go a long way in helping us reach our goal and make the Buddhist LLM a beacon of wisdom for all.

How will your donation / loan be used? Download the NORBU White Paper for details.

For Malaysians and Singaporeans, please make your donation to the following account:

Account Name: Bodhi Vision
Account No:. 2122 00000 44661
Bank: RHB

The SWIFT/BIC code for RHB Bank Berhad is: RHBBMYKLXXX
Address: 11-15, Jalan SS 24/11, Taman Megah, 47301 Petaling Jaya, Selangor
Phone: 603-9206 8118

Note: Please indicate your purpose of payment (loan or donation) in the payment slip. Thank you.

Once payment is banked in, please send the payment slip via email to: editor@buddhistchannel.tv. Your donation/loan will be published and publicly acknowledged on the Buddhist Channel.

Spread the Word: Share this initiative with your friends, family and fellow Dharma enthusiasts. Join "Friends of Norbu" at: https://www.facebook.com/groups/norbuchatbot. Together, we can build a stronger community and create a positive impact on a global scale.

Volunteer: If you possess expertise in AI, natural language processing, Dharma knowledge in terms of Buddhist sutras in various languages or related fields, and wish to lend your skills, please contact us. Your knowledge and passion could be invaluable to our project's success.

Your support is part of a collective effort to preserve and disseminate the profound teachings of Buddhism. By contributing to the NORBU, you become a "virtual Bodhisattva" to make Buddhist wisdom more accessible to seekers worldwide.

Thank you for helping to make NORBU a wise and compassionate Buddhist Chatbot!

May you be blessed with inner peace and wisdom,

With deepest gratitude,

Kooi F. Lim
On behalf of The Buddhist Channel Team

Note: To date, we have received the following contributions for NORBU:
US$ 75 from Gary Gach (Loan)
US$ 50 from Chong Sim Keong
MYR 300 from Wilson Tee
MYR 500 from Lim Yan Pok
MYR 50 from Oon Yeoh
MYR 200 from Ooi Poh Tin
MYR 300 from Lai Swee Pin
MYR 100 from Ong Hooi Sian
MYR 1,000 from Fam Sin Nin
MYR 500 from Oh teik Bin
MYR 300 from Yeoh Ai Guat
MYR 300 from Yong Lily
MYR 50 from Bandar Utama Buddhist Society
MYR 1,000 from Chiam Swee Ann
MYR 1,000 from Lye Veei Chiew
MYR 1,000 from Por Yong Tong
MYR 80 from Lee Wai Yee
MYR 500 from Pek Chee Hen
MYR 300 from Hor Tuck Loon
MYR 1,000 from Wise Payments Malaysia Sdn Bhd
MYR 200 from Teo Yen Hua
MYR 500 from Ng Wee Keat
MYR 10,000 from Chang Quai Hung, Jackie (Loan)
MYR 10,000 from K. C. Lim & Agnes (Loan)
MYR 10,000 from Juin & Jooky Tan (Loan)
MYR 100 from Poh Boon Fong (on behalf of SXI Buddhist Students Society)
MYR 10,000 from Fam Shan-Shan (Loan)
MYR 10,000 from John Fam (Loan)
MYR 500 from Phang Cheng Kar
MYR 100 from Lee Suat Yee
MYR 500 from Teo Chwee Hoon (on behalf of Lai Siow Kee)
MYR 200 from Mak Yuen Chau

We express our deep gratitude for the support and generosity.

If you have any enquiries, please write to: editor@buddhistchannel.tv

Search Buddhist Channel

Buddhist monks sue Burma minister over 'use of chemicals on protesters'

The Guardian, March 16, 2015