Authoritative Buddhist monks in Mandalay drove out young protesting monks to their own dwelling monasteries on November 17. After staying at the Yaytaw Monastery for one night, five monks were called upon to the Old Masoyein Monastery before noon by the Divisional Buddhist Monks Organization for the final discussion which had been actually arranged in advance to drive them out of the Mandalay region.
After a few hours’ discussion, they were forced to get into a car and they finally had to give up their plans of demanding for peace and freedom. It is heard that they were ordered to leave Mandalay by the the National Headquarter of Buddhist Monks Organization.
They headed towards Monywa, the most important town in Sagaing Divisional Region and intended to stay there. The chief monk of Jotika Monastery invited them to spend a night or two but local government authorities stopped them even while they were entering their area and it was clarified that they would not be also received in that town.
According to one of those portesting monks, two of them including U Sopaka from Germany had gone to Yinmarbin and other three to Kannie. It is not known how they will continue carrying out their activities of peace until now. Most people in Mandalay are still worried about their security.