He is reportedly staging a hunger strike in Mandalay's Obo prison while waiting to be transferred to Khamti prison in Sagaing Division, following a transfer order from higher authorities.
"Ashin Gambira, it is sure, has been on hunger strike since the 13th of this month. Now it's been seven days," a resident from Mandalay who has close contact with the prison told Mizzima.
However, for security reasons, the resident declined to reveal his source inside the prison.
Additionally, all political prisoners were previously allowed to fortnightly meet with family members. And family members of Ashin Gambira had met with him twice and were able to give him parcels. But on the 14th of this month, family members could neither meet with nor give parcels to the detained monk.
"They came last Wednesday to meet him but could not meet him or give him a parcel. The authorities didn't give any reason for their denial, just saying to come next Wednesday. That's all. His mother, worrying about her son, said, 'Something might happen to my son, all others except my son are allowed to meet their loved ones'," according to a resident from Mandalay.
However, despite the insistence of local residents who have close contacts with Obo prison.
On the 19th of November last year, the Kemmendine Township court heard Ashin Gambira's case inside Insein prison and gave him a 12 year prison term for three offences, including 'insulting religion' and 'committing a crime against public tranquility'.
Then, two days later, the Kamayut and Ahlone Township courts handed down judgment on a total of 13 additional cases against him, eventually bringing his sentencing to a total of 68 years in detention.
Ashin Gambira (29) joined September 2007's Saffron Revolution as one of the leading monks while pursuing his 'Dhamasaria' religious studies.
No Election Participation, No Disarmament: Mon Party
About 101 members of the party approved the decision after the party held a two-week congress which ended on Jan 17 at its central headquarters in Ye Township, Mon State. The party holds a congress meeting every three years.
Nai Shwe Thein, a member of the NMSP executive committee, said, “We didn’t get what we wanted at the constitutional convention. That’s why we will not join the election.”
Leaders also discussed the current ceasefire agreement it has with the military government, and the party decided it would not disarm, if asked by the military regime.
“If they [the Burmese military] ask us to disarm, we will do something,” said Nai Shwe Thein. “Our party policy is we will not give up arms, and we will not abandon our party.”
The party has maintained a ceasefire agreement with the Burmese military for more than 14 years.
Some Mon community leaders expressed concern they might be forced to disband their schools, and many Mon plantation owners and laborers are worried they will lose their rubber plantations if fighting should resume between the NMSP and the Burmese military.
Nai Aye Con, a member of the Mon National Education Department, said, “If there is a war, we can’t run the schools that are close to the Burmese military controlled areas.”
Rubber plantations produce daily income for many people, and some fear the recent NMSP decisions could threaten their livelihood.
The NMSP signed a ceasefire agreement with the military regime in 1995. Observers say there have been no political advancements in more than a decade, and the regime has continued a campaign of human rights abuses in Mon State.
In 2003, the party attended the national constitutional convention, but left after a proposal to federalize the constitution was rejected by the military-controlled convention. The party maintained observers at the convention.
In early March, the NMSP released a statement against the constitutional referendum, citing concerns that the constitution would strengthen the regime without resulting in any actual democratic changes in the country.
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