Burma Monk Leader Goes on Trial

A year ago, Buddhist monks drew the attention of the world by leading massive demonstrations against the government of Burma. Tens of thousands of monks took to the streets, chanting the Metta Sutta, the Buddha's sermon on loving kindness. The demonstrations were organized by the All Burma Monks’ Alliance (ABMA).

The leader of the ABMA, U Gambira, now is a political prisoner of the military junta that controls Burma. He had fled Burma when the government cracked down on the demonstrations. But the junta took his family hostage, and he turned himself in to spare them.

U Gambira is schedule to appear for trial today, August 4. His defense attorney, Aung Thein, is arguing that Burma’s senior monks should be permitted to hear the case. The military junta does not have a case against the monk leader, Thein says. "There is no law in Burma forbidding persons from chanting the Metta Sutta."