A public rally in support of offensive by Myanmar army in Rakhine State and other ethnic areas held in Pathein Township in Ayeyarwady Region on 1 January. The rally held at the Kan Yar Union ground was attended by 5000 people from 26 townships in the region including monks belong to the Association for the Protection of Race and Religion, more commonly known with its Myanmar acronym Ma Ba Tha as well as the group’s supporters and members of war veteran organisation. There are criticism by local residence to the rally, many people held activities against the rally by displaying banners in the town saying, “People of Pathein only want peace” and “People of Pathein support 21 century Panglong”. A senior monk in Pathein has criticised participation of monks in the protest. One senior monk was quoted as saying in a Facebook page of a journalist of The Voice newspaper Zaw Tint. The post said “I asked the senior monk on his reaction to the involvement of monks in the rally and he said what Lord Buddha said was very clear. The monks are to do only two task, which is call two Duya tasks. Monks have to do learning and teaching or if they are not doing that, they need to do prayers, which is call Thamatha Wipathana. If they support war, it is against the teaching of Lord Buddha. Those who respect the teaching of Lord Buddha (Wini) has set examples of doing so”. Also there has been a series of criticism posted by the residence of Pathein against participation of monks also against those who support the war. A poet Sayar Toe Wai wrote on his Facebook post that writers and poet opposed to the pro/war rally. One Education Officer from Kan Gyi Daunt said while watching the rally passed through the town said “I do not war I like peace. I absolutely oppose to the participation of monks in the rally. I do not support neither just nor unjust war”. The rally in support of the offensive by Myanmar military was held during 1 to 5 pm they marched across the city by carrying banners and majority of the participants in the rally are Kyaung Kone and Pantanaw, the two stronghold of Ma Ba Tha in the region, said a local resident. Reference: BHRN