Interview: ‘These Principles Are
Necessary to Protect The Country’
2015-10-05 Khet Mar for RFA’s Myanmar
Service
In an interview with reporter Khet Mar of
RFA’s Myanmar Service, Ashin Wirathu of the Committee for the
Protection of Nationality and Religion (Ma Ba Tha), outlines his
Buddhist nationalist group's views on Aung San Suu Kyi’s opposition
National League for Democracy (NLD) after meeting with senior party
official Tin Oo, as well as on other political parties ahead of
Myanmar’s Nov. 8 general elections.
RFA: What did you discuss when you met with Tin Oo of the
NLD?
ASHIN WIRATHU: I told him that Ma Ba Tha generally agrees with NLD
policies. We agree with the NLD’s goal of eliminating the
constitutional clause which gives [25 percent of parliamentary]
seats to the military, but we don’t agree with amending Article
59(f) [which includes eligibility requirements that effectively bar
Aung San Suu Kyi from becoming president], because it is like a
national fortress for the country.
RFA: People say that Ma Ba Tha shares the same goals as the
[ruling] Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP). What is
your response to these comments?
ASHIN WIRATHU: Yes, we share the same goals not only with the USDP,
but also with other smaller parties. We adhere to these principles
because they are necessary to protect the country.
RFA: According to recent reports, Ma Ba Tha members have
distributed pamphlets calling on the public not to vote for the
NLD. What is your response to these claims and what is your opinion
on the NLD?
ASHIN WIRATHU: Some people distributed these brochures while we
held a Ma Ba Tha conference. As soon as we realized this we stopped
them and released a statement the following day, saying that Ma Ba
Tha didn't endorse them. However, they continued distributing them
in other places. While there might be someone from Ma Ba Tha
involved in this, the organization never asked them to do it—that
is not our policy. They likely acted on their own beliefs.
My opinion on the NLD is that our organization agrees with part of
their name, as we are acting in the interest of democracy. But the
NLD is weak when it comes to nationalism, and we can’t depend on
them to stand up for the country. We’d rather refer to them simply
as the "League for Democracy."
RFA: You said you share the same goals as the USDP. What is
the nature of Ma Ba Tha’s involvement with the USDP? And which
party do you want to win the election?
ASHIN WIRATHU: I have no involvement with the USDP, and the party
exerts no control over our organization. However, we share the same
attitude on nationalism, as the USDP’s leaders are former members
of the military. I have been working in the interest of nationalism
… since before the USDP was even formed. I don’t fully trust either
party [the NLD or the USDP]. We have been calling for a multiparty
system since 1988. I will be pleased if candidates from a variety
of different parties win in the election, as long as they deserve
to be in parliament.
RFA: Ma Ba Tha has been asking people not to vote for non-Buddhist
candidates. Everybody knows about Ma Ba Tha’s anti-Muslim stance,
but there will also be candidates who are not Buddhists, including
Christians and Hindus. As you have spoken out about non-Buddhists,
does this mean that Ma Ba Tha is against Christians and Hindus as
well?
ASHIN WIRATHU: No, we are not against them. We are only afraid of
the danger Muslims pose, as Islam has been destroying the world. We
have no problem with Hindu and Christian people, who are our
brothers and sisters. Many Christian people have been helping
us—supporting Ma Ba Tha. We even have Christians in our
organization. We feel that all 135 ethnic groups [officially
recognized in Myanmar] are our brothers and sisters. We feel the
same even about the ethnic Kamans, who are Muslim.
RFA: A few weeks ago, a mob attacked a Christian church,
which is against the law. We haven’t seen any statement about this
issue from Ma Ba Tha. What is your response to the
incident?
ASHIN WIRATHU: We don’t accept that kind of attack at all. The Ma
Ba Tha group in that area has a responsibility to do something
about it. It appears they were derelict in their duties.
RFA: Monks from two famous monasteries—Masoeyein and Maha
Gandayon—have released statements saying they have no connection to
Ma Ba Tha and are not supporters of the organization. Other groups
and individuals that offer alms to monks have announced that they
will no longer make offerings to Ma Ba Tha monks because they
believe the organization’s activities harm unity within the Sangha
[monastic community], as well as the relations between monks and
laypeople. Do you see Ma Ba Tha’s activities as disrupting the
peaceful nature of Buddhism?
ASHIN WIRATHU: These are monks and individuals who are egotists.
They make their decisions based on their passions and concern for
political gain. They have launched a personal attack against us
because they think we are harming them. But actually, we give no
priority to passion—we are working to protect the nation and our
religion for the people of Myanmar.
RFA: So you believe that Ma Ba Tha’s activities are in line
with Buddha’s teachings and do not go against the peaceful nature
of Buddhism?
ASHIN WIRATHU: I do. Ma Ba Tha is acting according to Buddha’s
teachings. If someone believes otherwise, he or she should point
out how that is so. If we are wrong, we are ready to
apologize.