Monks require hometown police recommendation making passport

January 15, 2008

Monks needing foreign passports a required to get a local police ‘character’ recommendation, said an abot in Rangoon.

This is a restriction on the monks, said the aboot. According to him, the order was given last month from Rangoon’s Embassy.

Before the September protests, monks weren’t required to have passport recommendations. In the case of the recommendation, the junta wants to keep a closer eye on monks activities, said a political analyst.

Previously, monks were only required to state their monastery name in order to get a passport. Today, however, they have to explain their background and prove they are not involved in politics.

Recently passport applications were rejected for lacking a recommendation, frustrating monks, such as Non Dai, who must go back to his hometown Mudon in Mon State, to get a character recommendation.

Written by HURFOM · Filed Under News