MRC Participating in the
Seventh Session of the United
Nations Permanent Forum for Indigenous Issue draw
World’s Attention on the Mon Indigenous Issues
By Nai Mot Deep and Sike Mon (MRC Media Committee)
May 2, 2008
A
Mon team led by Monland Restoration Council members Banya Htaw Weang, Secretary
General, Nai Mon Jit , in charge of Mon Buddhist Temple Committee, MRC-Fort
Wayne Branch, Nai Seik Mon , Co-chair of Media Committee, MRC-Fort Wayne Branch,
Ven Ravika, Secretary of Mon Sangha Association, USA and Mi Aie Son, Vice
Chairman of Mon Youth Progressive Organization, Thailand headed to New York city
to join the UNPFII conference at the UN Headquarters, New York on 20th
April, 2008. During their stay in
New York City
, the accommodation was hosted by Brother Jim, a long time supporter of Mon
people.
The forum was held for two weeks from April 21 to
May 2, 2008. Issues discussed in the
forum included Climate change, biocultural diversity, livelihoods of indigenous
people, human rights, education and health of indigenous people. At the forum,
MRC representatives had a chance to
hand
out a
seven-page
report about Mon written by Mon Unity League and explained about Mon people
situations to governments’
delegates and respective representatives from different countries.
Moreover, Mon representatives were actively
participating in the discussions and presented about health and human right
situations in Monland. “Burmese military
regime spends only 5% of GDP for the healthcare,” Htaw Waeng said, “While
40% of GDP goes for the defense. Under the regime, hundreds of thousands of Mon
People in Monland mostly in the rural area are being ignored and don’t receive
even the basic healthcare.” Burmese regime spends billions of U.S dollars to
build up its military capacities including acquiring nuclear technology from
Russia
. Aie Son, MYPO representative from the Thai-Burma border, went further on the
health issues in the border area, “After the M.S.F (Medicins San Fronteirs)
left Mon area in March 2006, the healthcare in this area become from bad to
worse. Mon people have suffered from different types of diagnosis related to the
tropical diseases and died without treatment.” She said the
UNPFII should urge the Burmese junta to implement a sufficient healthcare system in
the indigenous area instead of building up military bases.
M.R.C attended the UNPFII
forum only one week of the two due to limiting of times and human resources. The
UNPFII is a forum which allows representatives freely
to discuss about indigenous issues including economic and social development,
culture, environment, education, health and human rights. The session continued
until May 2, 2008. MRC will prepare
to participate the whole session
in next year.
The United Nation Permanent Forum for
Indigenous Issues was established by the United Nations Economic and Social
Council (ECOSOC) on its resolution 2000/22. The purpose of the Forum is to
discuss indigenous issues, to provide expert advice and funds and to raise
awareness about the indigenous issues, and help to integrate and coordinate
activities in the UN system.
