Myanmar monks want to help, junta says no

The military regime has moved to curb the Buddhist clerics’ efforts, even as it fails to deliver adequate aid itself. Authorities have given some monasteries deadlines to clear out refugees, many of whom have no homes to return to, monks and survivors say.

“There is no aid. We haven’t seen anyone from the government,” said U Pinyatale, the 45-year-old abbot of the Kyi Bui Kha monastery sharing almost depleted rice stocks and precious rainwater with some 100 homeless villagers huddled within its battered compound.

Similar scenes are being repeated in other areas of the Irrawaddy delta and Yangon.

One of the monastery’s senior monks said he tried to argue with military officials who ordered the more than 100 refugees to leave. The Government has not announced such an order, which appeared to be applied selectively. Larger monasteries were being closely watched by troops. Newspapers have been ordered not to publish stories about monks aiding the people.