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50th Anniversary of Mon National Da
Subject: 50th Anniversary of Mon National Days
Contact: Pon Nya
2807 Westbrook Drive
Fort Wayne, IN 46805
Tel: 219-471-3961
Emai: honsawatoi@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
LOCAL OBSERVANCE OF MON NATIONAL DAY SPOTLIGHTS ABUSE IN BURMA
February 23-1997- Today is the fiftieth anniversary of Mon National Day,
marking that the day of establishment of the Mon Kingdom of
Hongsawatoi, today1s Pegu in lower Burma, by Prince Samala and Vimala
in 825. Mon people celebrate the Mon National Day at Indiana-Purdue
University at Fort Wayne, Indiana.
An independence Mon Kingdom flourished for nearly a thousands years in
the Southern part of what is now Burma or Myanmar. In 1957, the kindom
was invaded by a Burman dynasty and ever since the Mon people have been
struggling to regain thier independence.
For the last thousand years, Burma was in turmoil as the Burmans fought
to suppress other ethnic nationalities. Memory of this long and bitter
strife prompted the ethnic nationalities to seek to protect their rights
after independence from Britain. In 1947, the Burman and ethnic and
ethnic leaders signed the Panglong Agreement which acknowledged the
right of self-determination, autonomy and equality for each of the
ethnic nationalities. But when the constitution was actually drawn up,
it turned out to be a unitary system of government dominated by majority
of Burmans who refused to recognize the rights of established in the
agreement. As result, ethnic nationalities were forced to fights for
their rights shortly after independence from Britain 1948.
The situations of the Mons has grown considerably worse in recent
years. Under the control of the current military regime, thousand of
Mons are suffering severe poverty, political oppression and racial
discrimination in Burma. Worst of all, military seizing them for forced
labor on projects funded by foreign investors. For example, the
construction of a gas pipeline from Martaban Gulf across the Monland to
Thailand is notorious for its dependence on forced labor under the
cruelest conditions. Unocal is a major investor in this venture.
In addition, rapes and murders of Mons by Burmese troops in the area are
common.
To escape the oppression, thousands of Mons and other ethnic
nationalities have fled from the gas pipeline area to the Thai-Burma
border.
On the fiftieth anniversary of Mon National Day, Monland Restoration
Council is calling for three step that could lead to genuine federal
union that guarantees ethnic self-determination:
1. dialogue among the National League for Democracy Party, ethnic
leaders and military junta (SLORC).
2. U.S. sanctions against the Burmese military junta.
3. rejection of Burmese membership in ASEAN until democracy and human
rights are restored.
Central Committee
Monland Restoration Council
http://user.centralnet.net/honsawatoi/Monland.html