Feb 7, 2008 (DVB), A monastery in the border town of Kawthaung, Tenasserim division, that provides accommodation to poor travellers, has been told by local authorities not to accept visitors, monks at the monastery said.

Aung Dhamma Yeikthar monastery in Kawthaung’s Padauk Shwe Wah ward has been providing accommodation to poor job seekers from across Burma who come to find better paid jobs in Ranong district across the border in Thailand.

A monk from the monastery said that a group of local officials called a representative monk from the monastery into a meeting and warned him to stop receiving visitors.

"The township’s Sasana administration chief, the township head monk and the township Peace and Development Council chairman were in the meeting," the monk said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

"They warned us that the monastery has been very crowded and told us not to accept visitors anymore. This will make it difficult for people to find a place to sleep."

Reporting by Aye Nai