Phyo Min Thein speaking on 2 July to the Myanmar community in Singapore, said that Ma Ba Tha is “not necessary” because the country has the State Sangha Maha Nayaka Committee (Mahana), a government-appointed council that oversees and regulates the Buddhist clergy. He reiterated the point again on arriving in Yangon on 6 July.

Ma Ba Tha’s leading abbots held an emergency meeting on the issue on the afternoon of July 7 at Insein Pariyatti monastery.

One of Ma Ba Tha’s leading abbots U Wirathu said, “We [have] demanded State leaders settle this issue not later than July 14 by taking full responsibility for it.”

Abbot Wirathu said that Ma Ba Tha was established with monks and laymen for the promotion and propagation of Sasana and it was not in the jurisdiction of Yangon Chief Minister Phyo Min Thein to comment.

Ma Ba Tha Central Committee Chairman and Insein Ywama Pariyatti monastery abbot Badanta Tilawka Biwuntha said that if it was said individually, it must be settled individually, but if the entire party criticised Ma Ba Tha, then the party must settle the issue.

Ma Ba Tha said that it was constituted as per the provision in the 2008 constitution, article 354(c) and in accordance with the rules and regulations of Mahana which allows forming associations freely.

Abbot Wirathu added that they had already sent a protest letter to the President, State Counsellor and Patron of National League for Democracy party Tin Oo regarding what the Yangon Chief Minister said and they would stage demonstrations nationwide if the matter was not duly addressed by the deadline given.

He also said that if they really do wish to dissolve Ma Ba Tha then they must launch a raid on Ma Ba Tha as the previous government did at the Thantithukha monastery.