"Rhetoric, violence and growing influence could derail the country?s political transition... The Association for the Protection of Race and Religion—a group of nationalist Buddhist monks in Myanmar—has been rapidly gaining political clout in recent months. More commonly known by its Burmese-language acronym Ma Ba Tha, the group has scored several major policy victories, demonstrating the extent to which it has the capacity to influence Burmese politics as the 2015 general election approaches. As Ma Ba Tha has expanded its reach, questions about its connections to the Myanmar government and the ruling Union Solidary and Development Party (USDP) have emerged..."