Session Submission Summary
Share...

Direct link:

Understanding Ma-Ba-Tha: Buddhism, Customary Laws, and Women in Myanmar

Sun, June 26, 10:30am to 12:20pm, Shikokan (SK), Floor: 1F, 116

Session Submission Type: Organized Panel Proposal Application

Abstract

Ma-Ba-Tha is a newly formed Buddhist organization comprised mainly of monks who collectively promote the protection of nationality, race, and religion in Myanmar. In 2015, a set of ‘religious protection laws’ were passed by the Parliament, drafted and promoted by Ma-Ba-Tha, aimed at protecting the Buddhist nation in general and Buddhist women in particular. Although these laws do not make any mention of Islam or a specified threat, Buddhist monks have made no attempt to hide their intended target. The panel aims to understand the origins of their ideas in the formation of Buddhist customary laws that pertain to marriage and examine whether new ‘protection laws’ are truly beneficial for Buddhist women. Strictly speaking, Buddhism has never had a religious law that one can refer to as the ‘Buddhist law’ like in some other religious traditions. The panel hopes to explore the traditional notion of ubadei (law) in the formation of customary laws in Myanmar regarding marriage rights of Buddhist women, and highlight some of the pressing issues and problems that affect the daily lives of Myanmar women.

Currently, there are local women’s groups that oppose these ‘religious protection laws’, basing their argument on the progressive notion of rights and international law, while the majority of Buddhist nuns and laywomen are in favour of these laws as they perceive them to safeguard traditional moral values, which they see as beneficial for the cohesion of the Buddhist community. The panel hopes to engage with different perspectives and viewpoints expressed by Myanmar women, both lay and monastic.

Area of Study

Session Organizer

Individual Presentations