Accurate details on the Ma Ba Tha’s fundraising efforts are difficult to determine. For example, one image from August 2015 circulated on pro-Ma Ba Tha social media accounts shows Central Committee members Ashin Thadhamma and Ashin Wimala Buddhi sitting alongside a significant amount of cash as seen in the image on the right. 289 No other details on time, location, or donor are available, but the amount appears to be between US$5,000-10,000. Additionally, it is widely believed that some monks can raise very Image 33: Ashin Wimala Buddhi and Ashin significant sums through their own channels. For Thadhamma seen with donation raised by the Ma Ba example, a flood relief committee created by Sitagu Tha Mon State chapter, as seen on social media Sayadaw raised 325 million kyats ($252,000) in just four days, according to local media.290 Furthermore, funding can come from a wide range of sources. One instance involves the flood relief coordination committee managed by Ashin Sopaka on behalf of the Central Committee.291 According to what appears to be a page from the committee’s accounting book posted on a social media account, donations came from Ma Ba Tha Central, various local chapters, Mon State USDP party, and local companies, including a bookstore and two bus companies.292 While the allegation is that the Ma Ba Tha receives significant funding from the military, political, and business elites of Myanmar, there is very little information available in the open-source to validate this claim. However, available imagery indicates that several local political elites were courting the Ma Ba Tha’s support in the run-up to the elections. A notable donor was USDP-candidate Lin Zaw Tun, 293 pictured below, who donated $31,000 to the Ma Ba Tha in August 2015. Some political and military donations that can be verified with imagery are included below: Image 34 Reported Donation Amount: 10,000,000 kyat (US$7,800)294 Date: July 11, 2015 Donor: Colonel (Tatamadaw) Recipient: Sayadaw Tiloka Bhivunsa Image 35 Reported Donation Amount: 50,000,000 kyat (US$ 38,900)295 Date: Unknown Donor: “Yaung Ni Oo” aka Maung Maung Aung (former military officer and active Facebook user; currently running military veterans charity) Image 36 Reported Donation Amount: 40,000,000 kyat (US$ 31,100)296 297 Date: August 30, 2015 (image metadata) Donor: Lin Zaw Tun (former Colonel, and close to Presidential Office; reportedly running in election as USDP candidate) Recipient: Ashin Wirathu 33