BANGKOK — A resistance faction in Myanmar has claimed responsibility for the recent killing of a Buddhist monk and his disciple in the country’s eastern region. The incident underscores the ongoing strife following the military’s takeover in February 2021, which ousted Aung San Suu Kyi’s elected government.
Buddhist monks hold significant sway in Myanmar’s communities and have traditionally engaged in political movements in this predominantly Buddhist nation. While a number of monks have supported democratic reforms, others with more nationalist inclinations have collaborated with the country’s military.
On Tuesday, a collective statement from 14 local social organizations disclosed that Dhamma Thara, 48, and his follower, Aik Pi, were slain on March 4 by armed operatives at a Buddhist monastery in Ohndaing village, located in Phekhon township within the eastern Shan state. This area lies roughly 60 miles from Myanmar’s capital, Naypyitaw.
The local resistance group, known as the “Bee Column,” connected with the National Unity Government—a central opposition force—publicly admitted to the killings through statements posted on the Facebook page of the “Pekon Police,” another entity countering the military regime.
The Bee Column accused the deceased monk of being a military informant, alleging his involvement in organizing a garrison of displaced individuals to support the government’s interests in Pekon. Furthermore, the group accused him of urging military forces to launch artillery and air assaults on the town’s periphery.
The group claimed that during an altercation as they attempted to detain Dhamma Thara, a 29-year-old member fatally shot the monk, while his disciple was accidentally killed amidst the chaos.
However, the assertion by the resistance was countered by the 14 community organizations, which disputed the guerrilla group’s narrative as baseless and reflective of military-style oppression. Their collective statement condemned the killings, urging all parties to refrain from extrajudicial executions.
“Killing without legal recourse perpetuates oppression,” the statement emphasized, calling for prompt accountability for the acts committed. Nang Soi Khan, representing one of the organizations, stated that Dhamma Thara focused on delivering humanitarian assistance to displaced people.
The Karenni Interim Executive Council, an alliance of armed factions opposing the military in Kayah state, affirmed in a Saturday announcement the initiation of comprehensive investigations to guarantee justice. Local media reported that the Bee Column expressed willingness to adhere to any rulings made by resistance authorities.
This incident follows the murder of a prominent monk, Bhaddanta Munindarbhivamsa, last year after soldiers mistakenly accused resistance fighters of the attack. Additionally, a Catholic village priest was recently suspected to have been killed by another resistance group in northwest Myanmar.
Amid the conflict, numerous religious sites, spanning Buddhist and Christian faiths, have been damaged or destroyed, often as a result of military shelling or airstrikes.
