Win Sein Sayar Daw denies predicting cyclone in Mon State

Mon 07 Jul 2008, IMNA
Win Sein Taw Ya abbot has denied saying a cyclone would lash Mon state at the end of May. He also denied that he was arrested by the authorities for it.

Win Sein Taw Ya abbot Kethara, who has claims to have built the biggest reclining Buddha image in the world, said he did not make any astrological prediction on another cyclone on June 16.

Local people said the rumuor of another cyclone spread following a dream the abbot saw after Cyclone Nargis hit Irrawaddy delta killing more than 130,000 people.

Due to the rumour hundreds of people in Mon state moved to higher places and even local authorities warned the people. But there was no cyclone and a rumour broke out that he was arrested by local authorities because of the prediction.

"He did not predict a cyclone and he was not arrested by authorities. Even an investigation was not done by the authorities," a source close to the abbot told IMNA.



Win Sein Taw Ya has influence in southern Burma, is said to have magical powers and is famous for predicting lottery numbers.

He had built a 170-metre long Buddha statue in Mudon township and recently built an 80-feet high sitting Buddha statue.

When bodies of cyclone victims floated into Mon state, he visited the beaches and watched.