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Burmese dissident Buddhist monk Shin Gambira sits in his monetary in Yangon on Feb. 19. The monk, who was among hundreds of political prisoners released last month, is now facing charges of squatting after he returned to his sealed off monastery in Yangon. (Soe Than Win/AFP/Getty Images)
A prominent dissident Burmese monk released in the amnesty last month, will face trial on new charges of “squatting,” reported Burmese state media New Light of Myanmar.
Shin Gambira, one of the leaders of the pro-democracy protests in 2007, also known as the saffron revolution, was originally arrested in the aftermath of the suppression of the movement and sentenced to a 68-year jail term.
Last month, he was released in the general prisoner amnesty, but was detained again about 10 day ago. He now reportedly faces charges for returning to his monastery that has been sealed off by the state.
“The prisoner rejoined the religious order the same day without request will have to face the charges of squatting in Magin Monastery,” reported state media on Sunday.
Aung Kyaw Kyaw, the older brother to Shin Gambira, told Reuters on Sunday that he had no news of the developments that were reported on in state media.
“I last met him yesterday evening. I heard he had gone to have lunch with a monk friend of his this morning,” he said.
Taking power in early 2011, the civilian government in Burma (also called Myanmar) has initiated a series of reforms including releasing political prisoners, allowing pro-democracy parties to run for office, and signing peace deals with armed ethnic groups. However, the ceasefires have been broken and many activists have expressed fears that released political prisoners could be rearrested.