Defiant Mon Celebrate Their National Day

Sangklaburi, Thailand - Burma`s Mon people are celebrating their national day on Friday, despite attempts by the military regime to discourage such displays of national pride.

Hundreds of young people traveled by motorbike to the Mon State capital, Moulmein, to join in the celebrations of the 61st Mon National Day. Public observances of the national day were banned in Rangoon, however.

In Moulmein, people prayed at such historic pagodas as Kyeik Than Lan, Taung Wai and Kyeik Thout.

“We take this opportunity to show our culture,” said the young leader of a Moulmein community of monks. “We want to demand our rights.”

The anniversary commemorates the day when the first Mon kingdom, Hongsawadee, was established.

Celebrants in red and white Mon national dress gave alms to the monks and participated in prayers for famous leaders in Mon history. Displays of traditional dancing were held.

The Mon have kept their national day alive for more than 60 years despite attempts by the military junta to strike it from the calendar. The latest regime assault on Mon culture occurred when it changed the name of the Mon National Museum to the “National Museum” and replaced the Mon script with Burmese.

Mon researchers worry that Mon literature and culture will disappear entirely, deliberately assimilated through junta policies that include the absence of Mon language instruction from school syllabuses. Mon people are being encouraged to counter threats to their culture by photographing for posterity all public examples of Mon script.

Twelve years ago, the New Mon State Party (NMSP) signed a cease-fire agreement with the junta. But the agreement brought no political advancement for the Mon and no end to human rights abuses in Mon State.

Thousands of acres of land were confiscated in Burmese army operations in Southern Mon state, depriving countless villagers of their livelihoods.

Although they fought alongside the Burmese in the struggle for freedom from British colonial rule, the Mon won no independence for themselves.

With this history of a one-sided relationship with the regime, the NMSP has expressed suspicion about the junta`s referendum and election plans.

Source: www.irrawaddy.org (23 Februari 2008)
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