Myanmar’s fugitive ‘Buddhist Bin Laden’ monk gives himself up, a week before election

Ashin Wirathu is known for his nationalist, anti-Islamic rhetoric, especially against Rohingya Muslims. He had been on the run for 18 months

Analysts say the move is a bid to influence next week’s Myanmar election, which civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi is expected to win

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Fugitive Buddhist nationalist monk Wirathu hands himself in at a police station in Yangon, Myanmar, on Monday. Photo: Reuters

Published: 12:00am, 3 Nov 2020Updated: 6:58am, 3 Nov 2020

A hardline Buddhist monk turned himself in on Monday after 18 months on the run – and less than a week before Myanmar’s national elections – a move analysts described as a bid to “influence” the vote.

Once dubbed by Time magazine as the “Buddhist Bin Laden” for his role in stirring up religious hatred in the Buddhist-majority nation, Ashin Wirathu has been on the run since police issued an arrest warrant in May last year.

The 52-year-old has long been known for his nationalist anti-Islamic rhetoric – particularly against the stateless Rohingya Muslim community.

But it was his outbursts against civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi and her government last year that prompted the arrest warrant for sedition.

Buddhist monk Wirathu, second left, walks with his followers upon his arrival at a police station in Yangon on Monday. Photo: AP

After a year-and-a-half as a fugitive, a video posted online on Monday showed him speaking to supporters in Yangon, wearing a face mask and shield against coronavirus.

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