A disciplinary committee was reportedly formed on Monday after abbots of Buddhist monasteries in Sittwe, the capital of western Burma's Arakan State, were called upon in a meeting by the Patron President of the Township Religious Order in the city.
The meeting was held at 1 pm at Mahawaiyan Hall of the Lokanandar Pagoda in the town, with over 100 abbots in attendance. The abbots were summoned by Patron President Taungchaynwa Saradaw in accordance with the authorities' procedures.
"The meeting was called today in order to form a disciplinary committee for the monks because of the necessity of maintaining peace in our own region and preventing ourselves from indulging in or concerning ourselves with any affairs that may occur in any other regions," the Taungchaynwa Saradaw was quoted as saying during the meeting.
It was also learned that the disciplinary committee has been formed after Sittwe was divided into four main parts, with three abbots assigned as heads for each section.
The meeting concluded at 2:30 pm and the committee reportedly has been formed mainly to prevent untoward activities on the 4th anniversary of the monk-led protest popularly known as the Saffron Revolution, because news about commemorative demonstrations are spreading in the city. The phone lines in the town have also been cut off by authorities in order to curb communications in the area.
