activities that could be viewed as blurring the lines between religion and politics. Most famously, Wirathu served several years in jail for inciting anti-Muslim riots that led to the death of several Muslim civilians in his home village of Kyauk-se in 2003. Regardless, he routinely paints Muslims in a negative light in the media.175 176 177Meanwhile, Ashin Wimala is known for his fiery and extremely intense speeches, which a local newspaper –The Irrawaddy- reported attendees describing him as “like Hitler.”178 Others, such as North Dagon-native Ashin Parmoukkha, a member in the Information and Media Department and oft-described “spokesman” for the Central Committee,179 has been reported on social media to be in close coordination with several fringe activist groups who are openly engaging in outright hate speech.180 It is not certain that the official hierarchy described above fully describes the real distribution of power within the Central Committee. Most Central Committee edicts and statements are signed in the name of Chairman Ashin Tiloka, who speaks at major events, but he is now in his late seventies and reportedly in poor health. Meanwhile, Vice Chairman Sitagu Sayadaw plays a backseat, but seemingly opportunistic role. Between late 2014 and mid-2015, he appeared to be distancing himself from the organization as its international reputation slid. In early 2015, Sitagu Sayadaw released a statement denying that he held a leadership position in any organization other than his Sitagu Buddhist Missionary organization,181 and he conspicuously failed to attend the annual conference in June 2015, despite other Central Committee monks expecting his arrival even at the last minute. 182 However, after the ratification of the Race and Religion bills in late October, Sitagu Sayadaw returned to deliver the keynote speech at the triumphant celebration rally in Yangon.183 184 A significant amount of operational influence over the Ma Ba Tha’s strategy and its communications apparatus is believed to reside with the younger, more outspoken members. For example, Wirathu, as mentioned, is officially only a ‘manager’ in the formal hierarchy, but he has officiated some very significant events that suggest an influence greater than his formal title’s presumed influence. For instance, he received the NLD’s Chairman Emeritus, U Tin Oo, as part of a highly public NLD outreach to the Ma Ba Tha on September 30, 2015.185 186 Other than Sitagu Saydaw,187 Oo appears to have visited only Wirathu,, with a leaked video showing Wirathu condescendingly lecturing the much older Oo.188 Additionally, at most public Ma Ba Tha events, it is a small circle of Central Committee monks, including several of those mentioned earlier, who appear to be the most highly engaged. 189 190 191 This smaller circle is known to travel across the country in support of each others’ initiatives. For example, at a September 30 rally to celebrate the Race and Religion Laws in Mawlamyine, at least five Central Committee monks were seen in attendance on social media, including Ashin Sopaka, Ashin Wimala Buddhi, Ashin Wimala Bhivunsa, Ashin Thadhamma, and Ashin Parmoukkha.192 These same monks are entrusted with core functions, as per Central Committee directives seen on social media; one from July 6, 2015 ordered Wirathu and Ashin Parmoukkha to handle “the legal team” that handled the drafting and lobbying for the Race and Religion Laws.193 Additionally, the power of the laypeople, or non-clergy, experts cannot be underestimated. Laypeople comprise about half of the 23 identified “members” on the Central Committee and offer technical expertise that monks do not have. Laypeople are concentrated in the Legal Affairs, Accounting, and Information and Media departments, according to the list of 52 individuals identified by researchers. Key individuals among them include Maung Thway Chun, editor of the Ma Ba Tha’s popular Aung Zeyathu journal,194 195and U Ye Khaung Nyunt, a respected 80-year old lawyer coaxed out of retirement to help oversee the legal department.196 197 These technical departments have been central to the Ma Ba Tha’s success, and are important examples of the growing efficiency and professionalism of the group. They have been crucial in helping the Ma Ba Tha expand its media outreach, navigate the legal environment with ever-increasing efficiency, and have served as training centers for the broader 25