In this context, one of the more worrying recent trends has been the interference of Ma Ba Tha monks in local police and judicial cases. Ashin Parmoukkha appears the most egregious, as seen in various pieces of imagery from 2015. For example, in a report by the Burmese Muslim Association, he is seen allegedly reviewing the police case file on a Muslim man accused of stabbing his Buddhist friend.212 In another, in Sanchaung Township, he is seen on social media allegedly pressuring firmer sentencing against a reportedly mentally ill Muslim imam,213 while in North Okkalapa Township, he is seen Facebook lobbying for charges against 200 Muslims who had ‘illegally gathered’ alongside members from a virulently anti-Muslim youth activist group.214 More recently in October 2015, he can be seen seen on social media visiting a local crime scene even before the body had been cleared.215 Ashin Parmoukkha Involved in Local Cases (Images 9216, 10217, 11218, 12219) Image 24: Ashin Parmoukkha visiting police station to review a murder case in Mingalar Taung Nyut Township, Yangon, involving Muslim suspect in March 2015 Image 26: Ashin Parmoukkha seen on Facebook meeting police in Insein Village for an apartment dispute between a Buddhist and Muslim. The post claims the Buddhist was wrongly arrested Image 25: Ashin Parmoukkha seen on Facebook visiting police station in Sanchaung Township with activists from Myanmar National Network Image 27: Ashin Parmoukkha seen on Facebook visiting crime scene in South Dagon where trishaw driver was allegedly murdered by a Muslim. Post states time of incident as Oct 24, 2015 at 9:45 AM The pressure monks such as Parmoukkha can bring is considerable. In November 2015, five men associated with a publishing house that released a calendar claiming Rohingya to be an ethnic group of Myanmar were arrested, charged, and fined $800 for publishing material that threatened law and order.220 However, after the intervention of Ashin Parmoukkha and other Ma Ba Tha monks who argued that the fine was inadequate and that the issue was spreading through social media channels, the police re-arrested and incarcerated the men.221 The local police chief admitted to local media that he had “received an order from my superiors to arrest these men under a different charge” and added that, “this is a case related to protecting the race and religion.”222 The Ma Ba Tha has also used this 27