A monk, U Wira Thu, has preached a sermon with the title “Danger of poison and shelter under religious belief” on August 18 in Meiktila. The sermon was delivered at an event held in the town’s Aung Mingalar Hall to mark the 55th anniversary of the State Religion Day. He accused Daw Aung San Suu Kyi of trying to create division between the two monk organizations –the government appointed The State Sangha Mahanayaka Committee (Ma Ha Na- in Myanmar acronym) and the Association for Protection of Race and Religion (Ma Ba Tha-in Myanmar acronym). According to local resident, a large numbers of people gathered at the event, which was organized by Meiktila chapter of Nationalist Activists Network. In a sermon delivered in Meiktila in February 2013, a month before the town had faced a worst sectarian violence in its history, U Wirathu criticized the National League for Democracy (NLD) over dominance of Muslims in the party office in Meiktila. Referring to the NLD’s symbol “fighting peacock”- which is called in Burmese as “Khut Daung”, U Wirathu suggested it to be changed as “Mut daung” to reflect the dominance of the Muslims in the party. At least 12 people were killed and more than 5000 people made homeless in the sectarian violence erupted in Meiktila on 20 March. A local resident said, “We still hearing songs in praise of 969 movement (linked to Ma Ba Tha) played on loudhailers, in some wards Muslims are closely monitored, especially in Aung Zeyar, Yanmyo Aung, Minglar Zayyone wards, people do not like if Muslims enter into these areas”. U Wirathu also delivered a sermon in Tawma village in Meiktila during this year (2016) and many people gathered to listen to the sermon. According to local residents, the government has limited control over the activities of Ma Ba Tha. In the 2015 general elections, the Union Solidarity and Development Party won seats from the lower and the upper house as well as for regional parliaments. Reference: Source of BHRN