Two months after arrest of the Mon monk Ashin Uk Kong Sah by Burmese government police, relatives and friends have yet to find out where he is detained, what crime he is accused of, or to even see or speak to him.
However what has become clear is the Burmese government secret police (SP) are now specifically targeting monks that are deemed to have associated with him. According to a monk that is friends with Ashin Uk Kong Sah, he learned a township meeting that the authorities will specifically target and arrest other monks that have associated with him prior to his arrest. Specifically, about 35 monks, who had regularly studied Buddhist literature with Ashin Uk Kong Sah, were implicated as targets for investigation and arrest.
At a meeting in Mudon Township attended by the headmen, the Township Peace and Development Council chairman announced that 3 days after Ashin Uk Kong Sah was arrested, Burmese SP forces planned a policy of arrests of monks who link are linked with Ashin Uk Kong Sah. The source that attend the meeting also noted that the SP will also continue to target villages where Ashin Uk Kong Sah went prior to his arrest.
Another source close to the Township chairman explained that the SP had photos of monks who are supposedly linked with Ashin Uk Kong Sah.
According to a politician who wished to remain anonymous for fear of reprisal against his political party, the current pressure is a veiled threat to all monks to avoid gathering together for meetings and political activity.
“We wanted to meet with Ashin Uk Kong Sah after he was arrested, but the authorities didn’t allow him to meet with us or our representatives,” said a monk who also wished to keep his identity concealed for his own safety. “We also feel sad due to the arrest of one of our people. Monks are also avoiding [their monasteries] because the relation with authorities and monks have gotten so bad.”
According to a friend of Ashin Uk Khon Sah’s who is familiar with his arrest, a laptop computer, a video camera, a hard driver and a letter speaking out against the coming 2010 election were confiscated with Ashin Uk Khon Sah.
After Ashin Uk Kong Sah was arrested near Kjan Khaing Ye quarter near Thanphyuzayart town on January 7, authorities investigated the Aung Zaya monestary in Naing Hlone village Mudon Township, where Ashin had been living. While there investigators took a printer and a copy machine that had been used by student monks.
Nai Mon Kyaik Soi, a friend of Ashin from his native village in Chaung zone Township, was arrested 3 days following the government’s seizer of Ashin. Nai Mon Kyaik Soi who is reportd to have been friends with Ashin since childhood, was the first arrest in relation to the monk after his own arrest. Nai Mon Kyaik Soi had just arrived from Malaysia as a migrant worker, and returned home to try and get passport that would allow him to go to Korea.
As a sign of the increased pressure by the SP forces in pressuring the monastic community, the monastery at Wekaru village, Thanphyuzayart Township, where Ashin had been headed before his arrest, has been already inspected twice by police forces. While no significant disruption has occurred, a monk reported police questioned the head abbot about his travels, and stationing themselves outside and watching the monastery.
