Myanmar Arrests Former Monk on Immigration Charges

A former Monk was arrested in Myanmar on Tuesday and charged with immigration offenses.

BBC reported that Myanmar has detained U Gambira, a leader of Saffron Revolution happened in 2007, on immigration charges. Immigration officers apprehended Gambira in Mandalay for illegally crossing over from Thailand while travelling with his wife Marie Siochana.

The news site learned from Irrawaddy magazine that Gambira cannot get bail and Siochana is concern for her husband's health especially his mental illness. She also wondered why "they still want to arrest him."

Gambira who is a former monk has been living in Thailand. He and his wife returned to Myanmar in effort to acquire a Burmese passport.

Gambira's supporters believe that the latest incident is part of Myanmar's incessant harassment to him, BBC added.

The source recalled Gambira as the leader of All Burma Monks Alliance who organized weeks of protest against Than Shwe dictatorship. He was an important figure in the Saffron Revolution in 2007. It was noted that he was sentenced to 68 years in prison in 2008 but was released in an amnesty in 2012.

Gambira, whose real name is Nyi Nyi Lwin, came forward as a leader of Saffron Revolution a mass protest against the living conditions and oppressive rule of then-dictator Than Shwe, as per report of Yahoo News.  The government responded abrasively by seizing the protesters.

Gambira was arrested and members of his family. While in prison, he was beaten and tortured. He was discharged through amnesty. Since his release, Myanmar authorities have re-arrested him numerous times while he was in-between Myanmar and Thailand, the site said.   

Yahoo News mentioned Gambira's arrest happened after the visit of U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Antony Blinken. Blinken appealed to Myanmar to pardon all political prisoners.

Gambira's arrest is a challenge to Aung San Suu Kyi's incoming government. Concerned groups urged Suu Kyi, also a former political prisoner to prioritize the issue of prisoner releases. 

Tags

Myanmar, Gambira, Saffron Revolution, political prisoners, All Burma Monks Alliance, Than Shwe

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