Ashin Pannasiri was staying at Pyigyidagon's Yangon Temple in Mandalay which is the second capital of Burma. He is a member of the All-Burmese Monks Alliance, and he served as a spokes-monk for the Saffron Revolution. The Saffron Revolution consisted of a series of massive demonstrations led by Buddhist monks in 2007 demanding democratic reforms in Burma. Burma's military junta cracked down, opening fire on the protesters. Many monks and lay people were killed and many temples were raided during the night and a large number of monks were captured and interrogated. To this day Buddhist monks in Burma are still being arrested and imprisoned.
Ashin was captured and taken to the interrogation center on October 18, 2007 while he was chating with friends at an internet café in Monywa, Sagaing Division, upper Burma. He was sentenced to 3 years imprisonment for possessing foreign currency, and sent to a hard labor camp. Ashin broke out of the prison September 15, 2008 and escaped to India. He crossed mountains and spent two days and two nights without food. He arrived safely in India.
Ashin presently resides in India and is planning to re-ordain as monk because he was forced to disrobe during his time as a prisoner.
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