BNI English

Several hundred student monks called Koyins, mysteriously disappeared early this morning from the four main Buddha monasteries in Myitkyina Town, capital of Kachin State in Northern Burma, said local devotees.

There are over 200 monks in each monastery—the Myo-Oo and Andawshin Monasteries in Yangyi Aung Quarter and Suu Taung Pyi Monastery in Nan Thindar Quarter. Nobody saw them today, said local Buddha devotees and eyewitnesses.

The immediate reason for their disappearance is not known.  No one is aware where the Koyins have gone. Today is the deadline set by Burma's Buddhist monks for the Burmese military junta to apologize to them for beating up hundreds of monks a couple of weeks ago when they were peacefully protesting in Pakokko in Magway Division.

If the junta refuses to apologize, the monks have threatened to boycott military leaders and their families as early as on Tuesday in the major cities of the country like Rangoon.

In Myitkyina downtown, the security forces have been alerted and there are four or five security agents including traffic policemen, policemen and soldiers stationed on major road junctions. Several military trucks and military officials' cars are patrolling downtown today, said eyewitnesses.

Meanwhile the Myitkyina University students' poster movement with its five point charter of demands continues in the township and the authorities had to tear off some posters on Myitkyina-Sumpra Bum Road, yesterday.

Last week, the junta's Northern Command Commander Maj-Gen Ohn Myint urged leaders of Wuntu Monastery in Shanzu South Quarter in Myitkyina to stop sending monks to lower Burma- Sagaing and Rangoon cities on religious issues.

However, the monastery has replied that it is not possible to do what the junta wants