Brawling Myanmar Monks Show Buddhist Nationalists Backing Coup
- Resurgence of nationalism risks further destabilizing nation
- Military leaning on religion to gain legitimacy after coup
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Buddhist monasteries are usually known as places of solace and meditation. But one in Myanmar’s biggest city became the site of an ugly brawl in the aftermath of the Feb. 1 military coup.
Monks were among a group that used slingshots to injure anti-coup protesters who went to Yangon’s Bingalar Monastery on Feb. 18 in pursuit of men dressed in robes who had earlier beaten up a demonstrator. The mob also used large sticks to smash cars blocking traffic nearby.