A Buddhist monk network are planning to make a religious protest against Myanmar junta leader Min Aung Hlaing and other certain junta targets on Myanmar Armed Forces Day, 27 March.

The International Peace Sangha Network reported on 23 March that local and international monks will be performing Pattanikkuzzana Karma against the Military Council leader Min Aung Hlaing and his fellows on 27 March.

Sangha representative Jaung Jaung from the International Peace Sangha Network told Mizzima that Theravada and Mahayana Sayadaw monks from 13 countries including Myanmar will go on strike performing Pattanikkuzzana Karma.

“We need to be clear that we are not protesting against the (Myanmar) Military. It is not related to the Military Army. The boycott is aimed at the coup leader Min Aung Hlaing and his associated groups such as Pyu Saw Htee and other militias,” Sangha representative Jaung Jaung said.

The Tatmadaw (Armed Forces) Day is overseen by the Military Council and the strike is intended to be held simultaneously with the Military parade ceremony on 27 March in the morning. However, the strike was moved due to the time difference between the countries. The strike will start on 27 March at 8 pm local time and the organizers will notify the public via a Zoom meeting.

Pattanikkuzzana Karma is an act of no longer dealing with boycotted dayaka and dayakama (male and female donors) and the boycott would only be lifted when the boycotted people – including Min Aung Hlaing - apologize.

According to Jaung Jaung, when a monk turns his alms bowl upside down and refuses to accept donations, it is an act of political and religious protest. The monk rejects the offering as unclean and malicious, effectively excommunicating the donors.

According to Buddhist law, the boycotted people must apologize, directly or through an intermediary. But this has not been done and even if the generals retreat from politics or die, if they don't apologize, then the boycott cannot be lifted.

Pattanikkuzzana Karma, or monks participating in anti-military activities, has occurred twice before, once after the 88 uprisings in 1990 and again during the 2007 Saffron Revolution. This will be their third time.

The former name of the organization is Peace Sangha Union, which was formed by local and foreign monks in 2021. They changed their name on 5 March.