Ashin Pyinna Thiha is a prominent Buddhist monk and the abbot of a monastery in Rangoon, which has recently become a popular venue for political events. The Sangha Council, Burma’s official state council of Buddhist monks, had previously banned him from giving Dhamma talks for one year. In September, he spoke at the Mandalay office of Aung San Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy (NLD), where he called for national unity and emancipation from fear under Burma's new nominally-democratic government. A recorded video of the event spread among the Burmese public, and apparently citing this video, the Sangha Council issued a statement saying that the abbot was “disobedient” within the monk community and was to be evicted from his monastery. The news of Ashin Pyinna Thiha's potential humiliation sent shockwaves across Rangoon and supporters have gathered at his monastery to show their concern. He still remains in his monastery and has sent a letter of apology to the council asking that it reverse its decision.
What would you like to say as the NLD is preparing to collect signatures, including Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, in support of you to be delivered to the Sangha Council ? They are my followers. Monk receives donations from anyone. When army officers come and donate to my monastery, I extend my hospitality, and I do the same with the people from the opposition. Monks always stays neutral. We don't discriminate between soldiers or civilians. It is very simple, but I am sorry for those people who are trying to stir up the situation. I don't feel upset or frightened, but I take it as a punishment of life’s struggle.
What is your message to the Burmese people and the international community ? I want to say that all I am doing, including this, is for peace. I have been a leading monk in restoring peace. I have officially said that I will keep working for peace no matter other monks do or don't do. If you feel comfortable knowing that people are suffering in armed conflicts in the ethnic areas, you are unpatriotic to your country and your people. I am patriotic. I care for the interests of the country. If you really care for your country's interests, you shouldn't think that these ongoing conflicts aren't relevant to you. I am a peace advocate and have no violence in my mind at all.