Currently
there are approximately 220 monks and 8 nuns in prison in Burma, almost
all arrested after the 2007 Saffron Revolution. Living under one of the
most repressive regimes in the world, these monks and nuns braved death
to call attention to the suffering of their people. Chanting the sutra
of loving kindness, they walked, one hundred thousand strong, through
the streets of cities across the country. The brutal crackdown that
followed left untold numbers dead and thousands imprisoned.
Many
of the monks have received lengthy prison sentences some totaling up to
68 years. In prison, monks and nuns are forcibly disrobed and are
unable to follow the Vinaya, the monastic code of conduct. Most are
tortured. Their sentences mean deprivation, humiliation, torture,
meager meals, and almost no medical care. To survive in prison, monks
and nuns depend on their families to bring them food, medicine, money,
and love. However, many are sent to remote prisons or labor camps far
from their families.
Clear View Project's new program
invites you to "Adopt a Monk" to help bring attention to the false
imprisonment of the monks and nuns in Burma. The Assistance Association
for Political Prisoners of Burma (AAPPB), reports that when the
international community shines a light of attention on particular
prisoners, their lot improves. When one prisoner’s life improves, hope
is restored.
Adopt a Monk - How it Works
• Contact Clear View Project to choose a monk or nun. • Send regular letters on his/her behalf to the United Nations, Burmese Generals, & US government. • Send funds to buy more food & medicine for that monk. (details follow) • Hold monthly meditations at your center or public vigils in honor of the monk or all imprisoned monastics. • Send loving kindness to the monks & nuns, their families and the Burmese generals.
Monks inside & outside of Burma continue to risk their lives by educating & organizing in order to help their people.
Why focus on the monks and nuns in prison? •
The international community is united in their call for Burma's regime
to release all political prisoners. We join this call with our focus on
monks & nuns in prison.
• Burma's sangha is a shadow of
what it was. Today, monks continue to be harassed and arrested. They
are under surveillance, unable to freely practice their monastic vows
to alleviate suffering. Monasteries are closely watched, often
infiltrated by "bogus" monks sent by the junta. Monks on alms rounds no
longer line the streets of Rangoon. We are deeply concerned that
Buddhism itself is at stake in Burma. There are hundreds of monks in
exile or hiding who cannot return until it is safe for them. The moral
fabric of Burmese society is slowly being eroded by these arrests and
treatment of the highest religious leaders in the country.
•
Burma's democracy movement is quiet but determined, though many of its
leaders are in prison, hiding, or in exile. We can support the call of
the monks to change Burma from the inside out by supporting their
freedom. We hope that the "Adopt a Monk" Program will help lead to the
release of not only the monastics, but all political prisoners in
Burma.
How to begin? • Contact Clear View Project at margaret@clearviewproject.org or 707-360-8452 for start-up packet. • Sample letters to officials are available on web site, and by request. •
Send funds for the monks to Clear View Project at address below or
through our website. Checks can be made out to Clear View Project, with
the note “for the monks”. • Keep informed about Burma. www.uscampaignforburma.org/category/news www.burmesemonks.org/ www.fbppn.net
"The
Saffron Revolution was and is essentially not a struggle for political
power. It is a revolution of the spirit that aims at changing Burma
from the inside out. With loving-kindness, we intend to change the
hearts & minds of Burma’s generals, returning them to their inborn
buddha nature."
Clear View Project 1933 Russell St. Berkeley, CA 94704, 707-360-8452
Clear View Project is an affiliate of Buddhist Peace Fellowship, under the fiscal sponsorship of Inochi www.inochi.us, a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) organization.
See the Adopt a Monk button for sample letters. Letters can be sent to:
Ban Ki-Moon Secretary General, United Nations 1 United Nations Plaza NYC, NY 10017
Sect’y Hillary Clinton U.S. Department of State 2201 C Street NW Washington, DC 20520
Senior General Than Shwe Chairman, SPDC Embassy of the Union of Myanmar 2300 S. Street NW Washington, DC 20008
Ms. Navanethem Pillat UNHCHR Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights Palais des Nations CH-1211 Geneva 10, Switzerland
Secretary General Ban Ki Moon United Nations 1 United Nations Plaza NYC, NY 10017
Dear Secretary General Ban Ki Moon,
Thank you for your continued efforts to bring about democratic change in Burma. I appreciate the attention you have given this dire situation.
What concerns me now is the over 2000 political prisoners in Burma, specifically the 220 Buddhist monks, and 7 Buddhist nuns. As Aung San Su Kyi says, “Until all of our political prisoners are free, none of us can say that Burma is now truly on the road towards democratic change.”
This is certainly true when the religious leaders of the country are in jail. These monastics braved death when they marched 100,000 strong in cities all over Burma in September 2007. Indeed scores were killed and hundreds arrested. Their “crime” was praying for their people and the Generals in the hope that their prayers might relieve the dismal suffering of their communities.
The monasteries are the heart of Burmese society, with monks and nuns providing religious counsel and services, but also much needed social services, including care for orphans and AIDS patients. Currently, monks are routinely harassed and arrested, and monasteries are under surveillance. Make no mistake about it; Buddhism itself is at stake in Burma. With some 400,000 monks in Burma matching the 400,000 soldiers, it is no wonder that the military wants to destabilize their influence.
This intention to undermine the dynamism of the monasteries is apparent in the treatment of the monks in prison. Both monks and nuns are forcibly disrobed, and unable to follow the monastic code of conduct, which includes when to eat, pray, and interact with people. Many of the nuns are sexually abused, and both are subject to torture. In this extremely religious country, this weakens the very moral fabric of society as it diminishes one of the rocks on which the Burmese depend.
We ask you to make it a priority to secure the release of all the monks and nuns in Burmese prisons. While monks remain in prison, how can anyone feel free in Burma? Further there are hundreds of monks in exile or hiding waiting to return to their monasteries and their work. This is impossible at this time.
In the short term, we ask that you push for these goals: 1. Prison authorities must provide adequate, timely medical care for all monks & nuns. 2. All monks & nuns must be transferred to the prison closest to their families. 3. The International Committee of the Red Cross must be allowed to fulfill its impartial & independent mandate, and be able to visit all prisoners without restrictions.
Thank you for your prompt attention to this serious matter.
Secretary Hillary Clinton US Department of State 2201 C Street NW Washington, DC 20520
Dear Secretary Clinton,
Thank you for your bringing your attention to Burma so early in your role as Secretary of State. The dire situation in that country remains untenable for the Burmese people. The United States has an important role to play in bringing democracy to Burma
I am writing with my concern about the over 2000 political prisoners in Burma, specifically the 220 Buddhist monks, and 7 Buddhist nuns languishing in the most abject conditions in Burmese jails. As Aung San Su Kyi says, “Until all of our political prisoners are free, none of us can say that Burma is now truly on the road towards democratic change.”
This is certainly true when the religious leaders of the country are imprisoned. These monastics braved death when they marched 100,000 strong in cities all over Burma in September 2007. Indeed scores were killed and hundreds arrested. Their “crime” was praying for their people and the Generals in the hope that their prayers might relieve the dismal suffering of their communities.
The monasteries are the heart of Burmese society, with monks and nuns providing religious counsel and services, but also much needed social services, including care for orphans and AIDS patients. Currently, monks are routinely harassed and arrested, and monasteries are under surveillance. Make no mistake about it; Buddhism itself is at stake in Burma. With some 400,000 monks in Burma matching the 400,000 soldiers, it is no wonder that the military wants to destabilize their influence.
This intention to undermine the dynamism of the monasteries is apparent in the treatment of the monks in prison. Both monks and nuns are forcibly disrobed, and unable to follow the monastic code of conduct, which includes when to eat, pray, and interact with people. Many of the nuns are sexually abused, and both are subject to torture. In this extremely religious country, this weakens the very moral fabric of society as it diminishes one of the rocks on which the Burmese depend.
We ask you to make it a priority to secure the release of all the monks and nuns in Burmese prisons. While monks remain in prison, how can anyone feel free in Burma? Further there are hundreds of monks in exile or hiding waiting to return to their monasteries and their work. This is impossible at this time.
In the short term, we ask that you push for these goals: 1. Prison authorities must provide adequate, timely medical care for all monks & nuns. 2. All monks & nuns must be transferred to the prison closest to their families. 3. The International Committee of the Red Cross must be allowed to fulfill its impartial & independent mandate, and be able to visit all prisoners without restrictions.
Thank you for your prompt attention to this serious matter.
Senior General Than Shwe Chairman, SPDC Embassy of the Union of Myanmar 2300 S. Street NW Washington, DC 20008
Dear Senior General Than Shwe,
I am writing with my concern about the over 2000 political prisoners in Burma, specifically the 220 Buddhist monks, and 7 Buddhist nuns languishing in the most abject conditions in Burmese jails.
Buddhism is the heart of Burma; to have these monastics disrobed and imprisoned tears at the very fabric of society. I am concerned that these monks are not receiving the proper respect and the proper nutrition and health care that they need. I understand that while in prison, they must remove their robes, and cannot follow the Vinaya, the monastic code of conduct. This is a threat to Buddhism itself.
The monasteries are the heart of Burmese society, with monks and nuns providing religious counsel and services, but also much needed social services, including care for orphans and AIDS patients.
We ask you to unconditionally release all the monks and nuns currently in Burmese prisons. In the short term, we ask that you abide by the following: 1. Prison authorities must provide adequate, timely medical care for all monks & nuns. 2. All monks & nuns must be transferred to the prison closest to their families. 3. The International Committee of the Red Cross must be allowed to fulfill its impartial & independent mandate, and be able to visit all prisoners without restrictions.
Thank you for your prompt attention to this serious matter.
Ms. Navanethem Pillay UNHCR Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights Palais des Nations CH-1211 Geneva 10, Switzerland
Dear Ms. Pillay,
Thank you for your work for human rights. The United Nations is looked to in these times as a crucial arbitrator around the world. This is an essential role for the United Nations in Burma. The dire situation in that country remains untenable for the Burmese people, with one of the world’s most dismal human rights record.
I am writing with my concern about the over 2000 political prisoners in Burma, specifically the 220 Buddhist monks, and 7 Buddhist nuns languishing in the most abject conditions in Burmese jails. As Aung San Su Kyi says, “Until all of our political prisoners are free, none of us can say that Burma is now truly on the road towards democratic change.”
This is certainly true when the religious leaders of the country are imprisoned. These monastics braved death when they marched 100,000 strong in cities all over Burma in September 2007. Indeed scores were killed and hundreds arrested. Their “crime” was praying for their people and the Generals in the hope that their prayers might relieve the dismal suffering of their communities.
The monasteries are the heart of Burmese society, with monks and nuns providing religious counsel and services, but also much needed social services, including care for orphans and AIDS patients. Currently, monks are routinely harassed and arrested, and monasteries are under surveillance. Make no mistake about it; Buddhism itself is at stake in Burma. With some 400,000 monks in Burma matching the 400,000 soldiers, it is no wonder that the military wants to destabilize their influence.
This intention to undermine the dynamism of the monasteries is apparent in the treatment of the monks in prison. Both monks and nuns are forcibly disrobed, and unable to follow the monastic code of conduct, which includes when to eat, pray, and interact with people. Many of the nuns are sexually abused, and both are subject to torture. In this extremely religious country, this weakens the very moral fabric of society as it diminishes one of the rocks on which the Burmese depend.
We ask you to make it a priority to secure the release of all the monks and nuns in Burmese prisons. While monks remain in prison, how can anyone feel free in Burma? Further there are hundreds of monks in exile or hiding waiting to return to their monasteries and their work. This is impossible at this time.
In the short term, we ask that you push for these goals: 1. Prison authorities must provide adequate, timely medical care for all monks & nuns. 2. All monks & nuns must be transferred to the prison closest to their families. 3. The International Committee of the Red Cross must be allowed to fulfill its impartial & independent mandate, and be able to visit all prisoners without restrictions.
Thank you for your prompt attention to this serious matter.
