Burmese monks from all over the world have formed the International Burmese Monks Organization, under the leadership of two Senior Monks, Masoerain Sayardaw (Great Abbot of Masoerain Monastery in Mandalay and New York ) and Penang Sayardaw U Pannya Vamsa. The two abbots helped to set up the International Burmese Monks Organization (IBMO) in Los Angeles in October at a gathering of 49 monks from North America, Asia and Europe after monks in Burma were killed in street protests in September 2007.

The two venerable abbots were welcomed by various groups in Mae Sot on Thai-Burma border. There they have successfully organized a Thai branch IBMO consisted of over 20 monks presided by venerable abbot U Centita who came out of Burma after the Saffron Revolution.

Some important objectives of the International Burmese Monks Organization ( IBMO) are to spread the Buddhism around the globe, to publish teaching of Buddha and education in Buddhism, to protect or look after the interest and perpetuation of Buddha’s Sasana, to establish good relationship with other various religions in order to cooperate on common subjects, and to serve for the interest and peace of all human beings throughout the world.

U Pyinya Wuntha said that the organisation was formed as a response to the harassment, detention and ill-treatment of monks in Burma by the regime.  Many people inside Burma had asked monks to get together to bring this issue to the attention of international governments and Buddhist groups from all over the world.  “We are going to raise awareness about the issues inside Burma with the relevant governments,” U Pyinya Wuntha said.  “We will pass this message not only to Buddhist groups, but also to Christians, Muslims and people of other faiths to give help to the monks inside Burma,” he said.

Burmese monks in Sri Lanka released a statement offering their enthusiastic cooperation to the new group and expressing their belief that it will be able to help find a solution to the political and social issues inside Burma.  They were joined in their support by monks in Rangoon, Mandalay, Myin Chan, and Pakokku.  Four Burmese artists living in exile also expressed their support for the newly formed organisation.  The four were Kyemon U Thaung, a Bangkok-based journalist and head of the New Era journal, poet Maung Swan Ye, US-based director, writer and painter Win Pe and Mar Mar Aye, a singer and former head of the state Music Association, also now based in the US.  “We vow to follow the monk’s orders and accept whatever duties are given to us by the monks,” the artists’ group said.