Matthew J Walton - "Protecting Buddhism: Ma Ba Tha and the Shaping of Moral Subjects in Myanmar"
For almost five years, the most prominent group associated with expanded anti-Muslim and pro-Buddhist activism in Myanmar was Ma Ba Tha, the Organization for the Protection of Race and Religion. Emerging during a period of significant political change and anxiety, Ma Ba Tha filled a religio-political vacuum in the country, enjoying widespread moral legitimacy–due to its respected monastic leadership and mission to protect Buddhism–and near-immunity in the political realm–due to its many patrons in the ruling government and military.