Saffron revolution leading monk tied a knot with Australian

By Robert Elhose

August 1, 2013

Saffron revolution leading monk in 2007 got marry with an Australian web-designer on August 1 gave shock to many of the Burmese natives around the world.

U Gambira (alias) Nyi Nyi Lwin and his bride Maria France tried to register their marriage certificate at the Mandalay district court but which was rejected for unknown reason, said a human right lawyer U Thein Than Tun on his facebook page who finally made the bond legal on August 1 at his office in Mandalay.

31 years old Ashin Gambira who led All-Burma Monks' Alliance, a group which helped lead the 2007 protests against Burma's military government that is well known as the Saffron Revolution.

Following the protests, he went into hiding and published two editorials critical of the Burmese government in the Washington Post and The Guardian on 4 November 2007. He was arrested the same day.

In October 2008, he was sentenced to 68 years in prison, including 12 years hard labor; the sentence was reduced to 65 years on appeal.

Gambira was released during a mass pardon of prisoners on 13 January 2012 as part of the 2011–2012 Burmese political reforms. He ceased to be a monk in April 2012, stating that he had been unable to find a monastery to join due to his status as a former prisoner.

Maria France, an Australian computer web-designer from Brisbane, got a relationship with Gambira online and finally tied a knot, the lawyer's facebook page revealed on August 1.