Sittwe: Monks and students honored the 70th Saradaw Ottama Day in Sittwe on 9 September by laying wreaths at the foot of the Ottama memorial statue, despite the government's ban on observing the memorial day, said one student who participated in the event.

"About ten of us, including monks, went to Ottama Garden in the early morning of the day to lay wreaths at the Ottama monument. Police asked us several questions but did not disturb us. We were able to lay the wreaths and light candles at the Ottama monument," he said.

Local community sources confirmed that some groups were given the chance to lay wreaths and light candles in front of the Ottama monument inside the Ottama Garden in downtown Sittwe.

Last year security forces prevented a group of locals from entering the garden to place wreaths at the monument, but this year the restrictions were apparently eased.

"There were many security forces everywhere in Sittwe yesterday but it was intended to prevent protests. The authorities were not willing to disturb the people who were peacefully honoring Ottama," the source added.

However, some monks reportedly faced police questioning yesterday while they were traveling to some temples for worship. Small groups went to Law Kanandar Pagoda, Aye Zaydi, and Talon Daw Dhat Pagoda yesterday to offer prayers for Ottama.

A monk from Aye Zaydi Monastery said, "Some monks were summoned to the police station and asked questions about the distributing of Ottama flyers around Sittwe, but the monks were allowed back to the respective monastery at last."

Monks and students distributed many pamphlets with Ottama's portrait in Sittwe, and some anonymous protesters painted anti-military government messages on the streets and walls.

A businessman confirmed that he saw a painted message stating, "Never forget September 9 and never forget Saffron Revolution". He also said that he received a pamphlet with Ottama's portrait and many of Ottama's teachings.

The authority deployed many additional police forces at key locations in Sittwe in order to prevent monks and students in Sittwe from taking the occasion of Ottama Day as an opportunity to stage a demonstration against the military government.

However, the 70th anniversary of Venerable Ottama's death went peacefully throughout Arakan and passed without incident.

Arakanese people observed Ottama Day in many major towns in Arakan, including Sittwe, Mrauk U, Kyauktaw, Min Bya, Taungup, and Kyauk Pru.

Ottama wasa prominent educated monk in Burma who rallied the national spirit among Burmese people to fight against British rule for independence. He sacrificed his life for the independence of Burma. Ottama was born in Sittwe on 27 December, 1879, and passed away in Rangoon on 9 September, 1939.