The government is planning to return trucks which were seized from monasteries in 2004 during a general crackdown on unlicensed vehicles, according to source close to the abbot of a monastery in Moulmein.

The source said he heard from the abbot that Military Intelligence had visited the monastery a month ago to inform him of the plans but did not give a date for the truck’s return or a reason for the government’s actions.

“I heard about the plans to give back the trucks but not when this would happen.” He added that, so far, there appears to be only plans and no vehicles would be handed over yet.

The monasteries’ trucks were seized in 2004, along with many others without licenses, but according to a source close to the New Mon State Party, the government had no use for the monks’ vehicles.

According to a monk who heard about the plans, the government will not return trucks to all monasteries. First of all, the larger monasteries where the Buddhist scriptures are taught will receive their vehicles back and then later only those monasteries which ask will be considered.

The monk said, “In my opinion, the government is afraid that the monks will demonstrate this year before the election. For that reason they are trying to placate the monks by giving them back the seized trucks. This also is the opinion of other monks who have heard about these plans.”

A second monk commented, “I’ve heard about these plans but it’s just a rumor. As we know, the government rarely gives anything for free. They just give us cement to build monasteries and we have to ask very hard to get that.”