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OO RUEHCHI RUEHDT RUEHHM RUEHNH RUEHTRO
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ZNY CCCCC ZZH
O 141032Z FEB 08
FM AMEMBASSY RANGOON
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 7194
INFO RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC IMMEDIATE
RUCNASE/ASEAN MEMBER COLLECTIVE
RUEHGG/UN SECURITY COUNCIL COLLECTIVE
RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA 0913
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RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL 8004
RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO 5565
RUEHCHI/AMCONSUL CHIANG MAI 1388
RHHMUNA/CDR USPACOM HONOLULU HI
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 1345
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC
RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 RANGOON 000121 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR EAP/MLS, DRL, AND IO 
PACOM FOR FPA 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/13/2018 
TAGS:        
SUBJECT: MONKS OF CENTRAL BURMA PREDICT MORE PROTESTS 
 
RANGOON 00000121  001.2 OF 002 
 
 
Classified By: Poloff Chelsia Wheeler for Reasons 1.4 (b) & (d) 
 
 1. (SBU) SUMMARY. Monks from monasteries in Yenanchaung and 
Kyaukpadaung believe that there will be further 
demonstrations sooner rather than later.  This area in 
Central Burma historically has given rise to popular 
movements, and citizens of the two towns actively joined the 
September protests.  The worsening economic situation in the 
region, along with citizens' willingness to challenge 
soldiers, were cited as reasons for the likelihood of future 
protests.  END SUMMARY. 
 
Monks Afraid to Return 
---------------------- 
 
 2. (C) On February 8, Poloff and P/E LES visited monasteries 
in Yenanchaung and Kyaukpadaung along the Irrawaddy River in 
Magwe Division.  Magwe Division is one of the poorest 
divisions in the country due to lack of rainfall to grow 
enough food.  The people are predominantly ethnic Burman and 
strongly supported the NLD during the 1990 elections. 
Citizens of the two towns we visited took an active role 
during the September protests. 
 
 3. (C) U Thanwaya, head monk at Thukhawaddy Monastery in 
Kyaukpadaung, which was one of the most active monasteries 
during the September protests, told us that during the peak, 
crowds of men and women surrounded his monastery to protect 
it from soldiers.  They threw stones and sticks at the 
soldiers, who eventually left the scene without injuring any 
of the citizens.  The people considered this a great victory 
against the government.  U Thanwaya estimated that 
approximately thirty percent of the local population 
participated in the demonstrations in some way, a far higher 
percentage than in either Rangoon or Mandalay. 
 
 4. (C) Immediately after the protests, almost all of the 
monks left Yenanchaung, although many have since returned, 
reported Shwe Win Kyi, treasurer of the local branch of the 
Free Funeral Society.  (The Free Funeral Society has offices 
in Sapeyone Monastery, another active monastery during the 
protests.)  She said that of over a hundred monks who lived 
in Sapeyone Monastery prior to September, most came from 
local villages.  All but thirty have returned since leaving 
in September.  Monks at Zeyathuka and Thirithuka Monasteries 
on the outskirts of Yenanchaung also reported that a few 
monks have yet to return from the surrounding villages. 
 
 5. (C) In contrast, U Thanwaya, whose monastery in 
Kyaukpadaung housed nearly 300 monks, now has no more than 
 200.  The monk offered two reasons to explain why fewer monks 
have returned to his monastery.  Unlike Sapeyone, Zeyathuka, 
and Thirithuka Monasteries, many of the monks at U Thanwaya's 
monastery came from towns and villages further away.  Some 
monks may also be afraid to return. 
 
 6. (C) The government has very little leverage with 
monasteries in the area, but has taken other measures to 
block further protests.  For example, U Thanwaya said that 
the government has ordered the closure of four private 
NLD-run schools at the end of the term in March.  NLD members 
had been active behind-the-scenes during the protests, and he 
speculated that the government feared NLD organizing future 
protests.  The government strategy, said U Thanwaya, is to 
put the local NLD out of business. 
 
Poverty Breeds Dissent 
---------------------- 
 
 7. (C) Shwe Win Kyi and U Thanwaya told us that monks' 
parents would not let them return for fear of further 
protests.  Their fear was compounded by the poor economic 
situation in Central Burma combined with intense underlying 
anger after September's events.  All of the monks we spoke 
with in Yenanchaung said that the economic situation worsens 
daily.  We noticed several children at Zeyathuka Monastery 
who the monks said came from surrounding villagers in hopes 
of eating some of the monastery leftovers.  The monasteries 
 
RANGOON 00000121  002.2 OF 002 
 
 
themselves, he said, cannot house as many monks as before 
because the local population cannot afford to give them as 
much in alms. 
 
 8. (C) Shwe Win Kyi reported a rumor that monks would rise up 
again during a Buddhist monk examination to be held in March 
or April.  U Thanwaya refused to give such a definite date, 
but predicted that more protests would take place before the 
end of the year.  They would be bigger, he asserted, and the 
situation would probably get worse before it got better. 
 
 9. (C) Comment.  The international press paid little 
attention to protests in these small towns in Central Burma, 
since they did not have access.  These towns, however, have 
historically served as the based for popular movements in the 
country, including for NLD in 1990.  The military has done 
nothing to improve their lives since then, and increasing 
poverty and anger could spark another movement.  In Burma, 
the protests in the large cities may get international 
attention, but the popular resentment against the military is 
widespread throughout the country.  End comment. 
VILLAROSA