Nay Pyi Taw, 21 August
Military council arrested 14 persons, including 12-year-old girl and a foreign director, on 8 August for creating and performing in a short film entitled “Don’t Expect Anything” which the regime labeled it as an insult to Buddhism.
The military said that physical and verbal actions of characters defame dignity and morality of Buddhist monks, and cause annoyance and upset among Buddhists, through insultation to the faith.
Venerable Min Thonenya (Buddhist University), who is leading monk of multi-faith network in Spring Revolution, said to Than Lwin Times that the short film is just an educative film, and it is not insulting religion.
“It is a film that criticizes the prevailing situations, and it is an educative film for reform. Actually, the monks who committed rape cases are tarnishing the religion. This film is believed to promote and preserve Buddhism,” he added.
He also remarked that the acts of tarnishing Buddhism are cloing legal case of the monks who committed rape case, expelling a monk who complained another monk for selling the monastic land, and the improper association of monks with women against religious disciplinary rules.
The junta chief, who is labelled by military supporters as the patron of region, has arrested and killed prominent senior monks and other monks who involve in Spring Revolution.
The controversial short film “Don’t Expect Anything” was launched on Dhamma Youtube Channel on 24 August.
Those arrestees are Swiss script writer and director Didier Nusbaumer and actors San Win (a) U Zar Neinda, Yuan Ei Khin (a) Yuan Yuan, Zarni Oo, Win Moe, Kyaw Thet Htwe (a) Phoe Htoo, Ye Lin Tun (a) Ko Ye, Chan Chan May (a) Khin Rupa Shin Thant, Shwe Yi Win (a) Ke Ke, Kaung San Tun (a) Kyal Sin, Moe Pyae Pyae Thu (a) Ju Ju San, Khar Taw Mi (a) Khar Khar, Phyo Maung Maung (a) Joe Set Thwin, and Nyan Lin Phyo (a) Brian.
News—Than Lwin Times
Photo—A scene in “Don’t Expect Anything”
Thanlwintimes