Leading Monk Charged with Treason

A 29-year-old leading monk in the recent mass demonstrations, U Gambira, has been charged with treason by the Burmese junta, according to his family. The punishment for high treason in Burma is a life sentence or death.

His mother told The Irrawaddy on Wednesday that authorities told U Gambira?€?s family that he is charged with treason for his leading role in the September mass demonstrations.

U Gambira was arrested from a hiding place in Kyaukse, central Burma, in early November. ?€?They [the security forces] also arrested his father at the time,?€� said U Gambira?€?s mother.

U Gambira, leader of the Alliance of All Burma Buddhist Monks, which played a significant role in the September demonstrations, had been in hiding since the demonstrations were violently suppressed by the authorities.

U Gambira was born in the town of Pauk in central Burma. He has three brothers and one sister. 

?€?I am very worried,?€� said his mother. ?€?I am so sad for my son and my husband. They might be tortured during interrogation. But I am proud of him [U Gambira]. Since his childhood, my son has been active in helping other people.?€�

The monk?€?s father, Min Lwin, is believed to be in Burma?€?s infamous Insein Prison, said U Gambira?€?s mother.

U Gambira?€?s brother, Kyaw Kyaw, was also arrested in October as an exchange while the monk was in hiding. But his brother has not been freed since the monk?€?s capture. His mother and three other family members were also detained and interrogated before he was arrested.

In October, the mother and mother-in-law of an activist, Thet Thet Aung, were also detained as the authorities called for an exchange with the fugitive activist. Human rights organizations claim this form of arresting activists?€? family members is simply ?€?taking hostages.?€�

In the past, monk leaders have been charged with treason for their leading roles in peaceful demonstrations. In 1989, U Kawira, a leading monk from Mandalay, was sentenced to death for treason. He was a monk leader during the 1988 uprising.