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Last updated: 12 November, 2009 - Published 17:57 GMT
 
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Monks decry Burma leader's SL visit
 
Burmese and Sri Lankan leaders with Sri Lanka military

Burmese monks studying in Sri Lanka have publicly denounced a visit there by Burma's military leader Than Shwe.

Myanmar Student Monks Association (MSMA) of Sri Lanka in a statement issued on Thursday accused the generals ruling Myanmar of "actively establishing totalitarianism in the country, arresting, torturing, and killing politicians, dissidents, journalists, artists, union activists, and even Buddhist monks".

The statement by the MSMA said that they will continue the boycott of refusing all offerings from the ruling military.

SL President

A spokesperson for MSMA told BBC Sandeshaya that the Sri Lankan president is trying to associate with "bad rulers".

Burmese monk protest in Colombo
Burmese monks demonstrating in front of Burmese Embassy in Colombo in 2007

Ven. Gnanasiri said that President Mahinda Rajapaksa has strained his relationship with many countries due to allegations of human rights violations in the war with Tamil Tigers.

Top penalty

Buddhist monks of Burma, boycotted the offerings from the military generals in 1990 and in 2007 against oppression by the government.

Refusal of offerings is the highest punishment that can be handed down to lay people according to Buddhist religious tradition.

The Burmese leader's trip is the first in more than forty years.

It follows a visit to Burma by the Sri Lankan president in June.

 
 
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