The public was barred by Burmese military junta authorities from attending the trial of Arakanese historian monk Ashion Pyinya Sara on Monday in the Sittwe district court, despite having earlier allowed people to be present when he was produced in court.

"We went to the court for the trial of U Pyinya Sara on Monday, but the authorities did not allow us to attend the hearing," a relative of the monk said.

Ashion Pyinya Sara was arrested by authorities on July 27. Since then, the monk has been produced in court thrice. All previous times, members of the public could attend the hearing.

"Armed security police were deployed at the entrance of the court compound as well as inside the courtroom on the day. The police barred us from entering the courtroom but did not disclose why they were banning the public from the trial," he added.

On August 17, the second day of the trial, the government's main witness, Daw Mala, stated before the judge that the monk had not lived with her and that he was innocent. She confessed to accusing the monk of cohabitation in order to get money after the complainants, U Tun Thein and Aung Win Kyaw, offered to pay her two million Kyat if she accused Ashion Pyinya Sara of living with her.

News about Daw Mala's confession spread and many realized the accusations against the monk are baseless.

"The authorities are worried that information from the trial would leak if the public was allowed to attend the court hearing. So they barred the public. It further proves the charges against Ashion Pyinya Sara have been fabricated," the relative said.

Ashion Pyinya Sara is a well-known Arakanese historian, who has written many articles related to the ancient kingdom of Arakan and Arakanese literature. The authorities, however, see this as behaviour contrary to the solidarity of the union. U Pyinya Sara also refused to cooperate with the military authorities when they proposed he work for the government.

It was learnt that many believe the arrest of Ashion Pyinya Sara is related to politics and his attitude against the military government.

U Pyinya Sara is now being detained at the Sittwe prison and authorities have filed seven charges against him. Among them is one serious charge of disrupting the stability of the state.