Sayardaw U Panna Zawta, the abbot of Metta Parami Monastery in Buffalo, United States, was reportedly arrested by the Myanmar military junta while he was temporarily visiting Myanmar for religious purposes.
A U.S. citizen, U Panna Zawta had returned to Myanmar to oversee the construction of the Ananda Metta Parami Pavilion at Pyinnya Parami Monastery in Nway Khway village, Mingaladon Township. He was arrested on November 13 in Yangon, and contact with him has since been lost, according to sources close to him.
Sayardaw U Panna Zawta was one of the leading monks during the 2007 Saffron Revolution and had been involved in the formation and activities of the All Burma Young Monksโ Union (ABYMU), which organized protests against the military regime. Due to previous arrests, he had been forced to seek refuge abroad.
Sayardaw was also a former political prisoner, having been imprisoned in 1990 for participating in the โPattanikkujjana,โ a Buddhist monksโ boycott of those who have committed offenses against the Sangha (clergy) or religious principles. This form of nonviolent resistance included refusing alms and religious services such as funerals or blessings.
Known by the alias โNat Zawโ within Myanmarโs political prisoner circles, U Panna Zaw has long been recognized for his unwavering stance against injustice and his leadership in the struggle for democracy.
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