Mon Women’s Day Joint Statement

By

Mon Women’s Association of America and Mon Women’s Organization ( Canada )

February 28, 2007

 

Mon women’s Day is observed every year on the 12th Waning day of Pora Gong (Mon Lunar Calendar), the birth date of a famous Mon queen Mi Sao Bu (Shin Saw Bu), with the aim of empowering Mon women to actively participate and take leadership roles in social, economic, and political processes.  Mi Sao Bu was the only queen who reigned in the history of Burma , and the Hongsawatoi Mon kingdom under her rule was in peace and prosperity. 

Today, despite the ceasefire agreement with the New Mon State Party (NMSP), Burmese military regime continues its militarization and serious human rights violations in Mon State .  Burmese regime’s troops are employing terror tactics including torture by electric shock and sexual violence against Mon women and girls in escalated counter-insurgency campaigns in Mon State , particularly in southern Ye Township.  The use of sexual violence against ethnic women and girls as a weapon of war against ethnic nationalities continues to be widespread in Burma .  The “State of Terror” published recently by the Karen Women’s Organization reports shocking evidence of such atrocities.

 Many in the international community have made vigorous efforts to end human rights abuses and atrocities inflicted on ethnic nationalities in Burma .  However, on January 12, 2007, Russia and China exercised their veto power to block the UN Security Council Resolution that called upon the Burmese regime to end human rights violations in the country. We are deeply saddened by the decisions of Russian and Chinese governments and by the South African’s vote to oppose the resolution.

On the occasion of Mon Women's Day,

We earnestly request the Russian and Chinese governments to:

bulletReconsider their positions and support the UN Security Council’s intervention to stop the rapes, tortures and killings of ethnic women and girls in Burma ;

We continue our appeal to the international community to use all possible means to pressure the Burmese military regime to:

bulletEnd all forms of human rights abuses and measures of ethnic cleansing in Mon State and all other ethnic nationality areas;
bulletInitiate a genuine tripartite dialogue as recommended by the United Nations and to begin the processes of democratic reform and national reconciliation;

We call for the Burmese military regime to immediately:

bulletStop human rights abuses, particularly sexual violence against ethnic women and girls; 
bulletWithdraw all its troops from Mon State and all ethnic nationality areas;
bulletRelease Nai Yekha, Nai Cheem Gakao and all political prisoners in Burma including Hkun Htun Oo and Daw Aung San Suu Kyi;

Media contact:

Mi Ong Mon Chan (Phone: 403 475 1281)

Mi Pakao Rot (Phone: 260 486 0164)