The Ayeyarwady Region government has denied permission to a famous Ma Ba Tha monk to preach sermon in Pathein. The Region government said it feared the sermon could trigger religious violence, as tension is high after a prominent Muslim lawyer U Ko Ni was shot dead in Yangon in late January. The sermon was plan to be held in Shu Khin Tha square of Pathein on 31 January and 1 February. Together with U Wiratu, Bandata Widara the monk of Shwe Ma Soe Yine monastery was also to plan to give sermon. Permission for the event was requested to the Ayeyarwady Region General Administration Department by Ayeyarwady Nationalist network. “It was found out afterward that among those who were to give sermon include U Wirathu, the organisers have already started preparing stage for the monks to give sermon, and they have compile woods that are needed to build the stage. The Region government has refused to give permission and U Wirathu has not come to Pathein,” a journalist said. The Voice journal quoting an official from the Ayeyarwady Region government said the reason for refusing permission to U Wirathu to speak was to prevent religious violence in the aftermath of the assassination of U Ko Ni. The official added that there has been criticism over U Wirathu sermons as he include hate messages against minority religions, which is against the teaching of Lord Buddha. Some of his post on social media has created controversy and trigger debate among the members of different religions. One Buddhist schoolteacher in Pathein said, “I have never met U Wirathu I am glad the sermon was cancelled. He is spreading hate message, what he wrote on social media is all against Kular (a derogatory term used in Myanmar against Muslims and South Asian origins). U Ko Ni was assassinated on 29 January in front of the Yangon International Airport by a gunman who shot him from point blank range. The incident happened on U Ko Ni’s return from Indonesia. Reference: BHRN