Myanmar fugitive monk hands himself in to police

A hardline Buddhist monk -- a man who once called himself the "Burmese bin Laden" -- has handed himself over to police in Myanmar after over a year on the run from the law.

Ashin Wirathu is a Buddhist nationalist who was wanted under a law that prohibits bringing quote "hatred or contempt" toward the government.

He's a supporter of Myanmar's powerful military and critical of civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi, but he's also known for his rhetoric against the country's minority Muslim population, particularly against the persecuted Rohingya minority.

Hundreds of his supporters also turned out when the arrest warrant was issued for sedition last May.

His surrender to authorities comes days ahead of a Nov. 8 national election, where Suu Kyi's party, the National League for Democracy, is expected to retain power.

In a video broadcast of a speech he made to his supporters before he handed himself in, he accused Suu Kyi's government of bullying him, according to Reuters witnesses.

Video Transcript

- A hardline Buddhist monk, a man who once called himself the Burmese bin Laden, has handed himself over to police in Myanmar after over a year on the run from the law. Ashin Wirathu is a Buddhist nationalist who was wanted under a law that prohibits bringing hatred or contempt toward the government.

He's a supporter of Myanmar's powerful military and critical of civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi, but he's also known for his rhetoric against the country's minority Muslim population, particularly against the persecuted Rohingya minority. Hundreds of his supporters also turned out when the arrest warrant was issued for sedition last May.

His surrender to authorities comes days ahead of the November 8th national election, where Suu Kyi's party, the National League for Democracy, is expected to retain power. In a video broadcast of a speech he made to his supporters before he handed himself in, he accused Suu Kyi's government of bullying him, according to Reuters witness.

 

Source:  https://news.yahoo.com/myanmar-fugitive-monk-hands-himself-103754535.html