Abbot at monastery occupied by junta troops in Letpadan dies suspiciously

Abbot of a monastery occupied by the coup military in Letpadan dies suspiciously

October 17

In Letpadan Township, western Bago Region, the abbot of a monastery where a coup military column is stationed has suddenly died, found hanging by the neck in his resting room, it is learned.

Around 8 a.m. on October 14, the abbot of Lay Pyin Monastery in Pho Khaung Su village, eastern Letpadan Township, the Venerable U Sumana, aged about 40, was found dead inside a room with a rope tied around his neck and his knees drawn up, it is learned.

"After eating his morning alms food, he was still talking with villagers about Kathina matters; up to that point everything was normal. While the monastery's donor was cooking curry, she found the cooking oil had run out, so she went to ask him, and he was dead with his knees bent," a local said.

The Venerable U Sumana was a native of Zee Phyu Kone tract in western Letpadan Township and had entered the monkhood at a young age, it is learned, and because the coup military frequently came and stationed themselves at the monastery where he resided, he was said to be distressed, and he had spoken of this the day before his death, it is learned.

Locals are suspicious of members of the coup military regarding the cause of the abbot's death, and there was no sending of the abbot's body to a hospital for examination; instead, it is learned that he will be cremated on the seventh day after his death.

Similarly, on October 16, a senior abbot of Oke Shit Kone village in Aunglan Township, Magway Region, also wrote a suicide note and died by hanging, it is learned.

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