"Wirathu"

Yangon - An ultra-nationalist monk dubbed the "Buddhist Bin Laden" for his anti-Muslim vitriol has been summoned for reprimand by Myanmar's top religious council, as police pursue him on charges of stirring up unrest.

Yangon - Russian social media site VKontakte (VK) has followed Facebook by banning Myanmar's army chief and a nationalist monk known for stirring up Islamophobia in a country condemned globally for the treatment of its Rohingya Muslims.

Ayeyarwady Region's government has banned Ashin Wirathu, the nationalIst Buddhist monk and high-profile leader of the religious organisation known as Ma Ba Tha, from preaching in the region.

The Ministry of Religion and Culture announced on March 11 that it would take action if the nationalist monk U Wirathu made remarks on social or traditional media criticising the one-year preaching ban issued by the Sangha Maha Nayaka Committee. The government-appointed body of high-ranking monks oversees and regulates the Myanmar's sangha or Buddhist clergy.

MYANMAR’S EXTREMIST Buddhist monk Ashin Wirathu led a rally in Mandalay on Thursday to support the Dhammakaya Temple, which is at loggerheads with Thai authorities over the ongoing hunt for former abbot Phra Dhammachayo.