ONWARD BUDDHIST SOLDIERS!

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 RANGOON 001479

SIPDIS

STATE FOR EAP/BCLTV, DRL
COMMERCE FOR ITA JEAN KELLY
TREASURY FOR OASIA JEFF NEIL
USPACOM FOR FPA

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/18/2013
TAGS: SCUL PINS PGOV PHUM BM
SUBJECT: ONWARD BUDDHIST SOLDIERS!

REF: RANGOON 1361

Classified By: COM Carmen Martinez for Reasons 1.5 (B,D)


1. (C) Summary: In Burma, the Buddhist monkhood is a force
second in size and power only to the ruling military. The
Burmese government has coerced and cajoled the country's most
senior abbots into political line, thus indirectly
controlling the rank and file. However, the monkhood is a
large and diverse group, and the senior abbots may not have
the respect they once commanded. Thus, the GOB's ironclad
control over the whole group may be impermanent. End summary.

Proverb: "Where Civil Power Fails, Religious Power is
Required"


2. (U) At 400,000 strong, Burma's Buddhist monkhood, or
sangha, is a force matched only in manpower by the equally
robust Burmese military. This number does not include the
estimated 100,000 Buddhist nuns, women who have taken the
tonsure to receive religious education, but who have no
political power and do not receive the same respect from
society as do their male counterparts. The sangha is highly
revered (as the military was) and is a vital element of
Burmese history and national identity. Like the military,
the sangha defies easy categorization and generalizations.
However, there is an organizational structure and some basic
delineations that clarify the political role played by this
important civil society group.


3. (U) Traditionally, the reigning civil authority is
reluctant to take direct action against the monkhood.
Instead, orders and guidance impacting the sangha come
directly from a 10-member ruling committee and its 47-member
working committee. Thus, control of these committees,
comprised of senior abbots from around the country, is
essential to control of the country's monks. Not
surprisingly, the GOB's Ministry of Religious Affairs
hand-picks the committee members.

A Sect for Every Monk


4. (SBU) Beneath the state-controlled governing bodies, the
monkhood is divided into three main sects: Thudamma,
Shwekyin, and Nget Twin.

-- Thudamma: The largest and most influential sect.
Thudamma is comparatively liberal in discipline and doctrine
and is close to the government. The sect's leaders are
generally chosen because of a close relationship with SPDC
officials. The GOB often gives abbots from this sect
preference when filling vacancies on the national sangha
committees.

-- Shwekyin: The second largest sect. Shwekyin is much more
conservative, requiring its members to practice austerity and
strict adherence to Buddhist principles. Though leaders of
this sect tend to strike a politically neutral position,
dealing with both the GOB and the democratic opposition, the
Burmese leadership lends support to this sect because of its
size and its solid reputation in international Buddhist
circles. The leader of the Shwekyin is always named vice
chairman of the aforementioned sangha working committee.

-- Nget Twin: The smallest of the three sects. Nget Twin
members have a religious and political profile close to that
of the Thudamma sect, but are not involved in social
activities.

Young Man, There's a Place You Can Go


5. (SBU) These days, Buddhism's political influence lies with
the sangha and its associations. Buddhism's original
political arm, the Young Men's Buddhist Association (YMBA),
founded in 1906, played a crucial role during the early fight
for Burmese independence. However, the organization is a
shell of its former self. The YMBA's current leader avows
the group is apolitical, focusing now on promoting Buddhist
education for children -- a campaign encouraged by the
government -- and other humanitarian work. The Ministry of
Health, grasping around for local, independent NGOs to shore
up an application to the Global Fund for AIDS, Tuberculosis,
and Malaria (GFATM),drafted the YMBA to help provide
HIV/AIDS education. The YMBA will do this, by encouraging
children to live clean, ethical lives according to Buddhist
principles.

Proverb: "A Monk's Greed is Immeasurable"


6. (C) There is a long tradition in Burma of Buddhist monks
leading opposition to unjust rulers. Recognizing this, the
military regime has displayed impressive stick and carrot
work over the last 15 years to intimidate and co-opt the
sangha's senior leadership and thus ensure the rank-and-file
monks remain politically "correct." However, the sangha is
not an entirely neutralized political force. Many senior
monks, especially of the Shwekyin faction, try to avoid
choosing sides. Furthermore, the abbots' control of their
acolytes, many of whom are not lifelong monks, may not be
unquestioned. We've heard reliable accounts of young
novices, though sworn to obedience and humility, grumbling
over the cash and prizes they see the government heaping upon
their greedy leaders. Such grumbling may continue following
the November 6th decision of the sangha working committee,
with quiet direction from the Ministry of Religious Affairs,
to close monastic schools, and impose a curfew on remaining
monks, to avoid further Muslim-Buddhist violence (reftel).
Martinez