MONS WORLDWIDE CELEBRATE NATIONAL DAY
(Kao-Wao, February 18, 2003)

In Finland
The 56th anniversary of the Mon National Day was celebrated in Jyvaskyla on
15th February 2003. Reported by Talaporn Mon, the leader of the Finn Mon
community, the celebration was organized by the Association of Finn-Mon
Community and attended by 70 guests and authorities of Jyvaskyla city.
Speeches were delivered by the chairperson of Finn-Mon, Chairman of the
Finnish Burma Committee Dr. Tapani Ojsati and Ms. Kirsti Salo who gave an
update on the current political situation in Burma and the plight of Mon
people. Mon traditional dances performed by women and a large variety of
delicious spicy foods with rice and noodles were served during the social
event.

In Canada
Reported by Nai Rotmon Hongsar of the Mon Canadian Association and Nai SiMon
(Chit) of the Mon Cultural Society, the events were joyfully celebrated at
two venues in Toronto and Calgary on the same day, February 15. Together,
the celebrations were attended by over four hundred supporters and friends
of the Mons and solidarity messages of Dr. Sein Win, the Prime Minister of
the Burmese Government in exile and Mr. David Kilgour, Canada's Secretary of
State for Asia-Pacific were read during the gathering.

Representatives from the local Municipal Canadian government, Amnesty
International and community leaders sincerely expressed their solidarity
messages followed by entertainment by the Mon women dancers richly dressed
in traditional red and gold stitched sarongs, music and delicious foods were
enjoyed by all. Several Mon from Vancouver traveled the 14 hours on a
Greyhound bus to Calgary while some even drove their mini-vans through the
snowy winter conditions of Canada.

In the USA
Organized by the Monland Restoration Council, Mon National Day was happily
celebrated in Fort Wayne, Indiana State, USA. Other ceremony also took
place at Akron, Ohio. Even heavy snow did not prevent 400 guests to join in
the celebration in Fort Wayne including representatives from Congress, Mayor
offices and leaders from the Vietnam, Sri-Lanka and Lao communities.

Messages from the National Coalition Government of Union of Burma (NCGUB)
and Karen Solidarity Organization (KSO) were also present at the celebration
and provided their support. Various traditional dances and songs were
performed after political messages and media groups also broadcasted the
event.

Asia and Europe
Together with Mon communities in the Netherlands and Denmark, the majority
of Mon migrant workers took a day off and celebrated the event near their
work sites and temples in Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore and Japan. For the
first time Mon youths in London, UK organized the event.

Inside Monland
Mon National Day celebrations were held in several places at Ye,
Thanbyuzayat, Mudon, Kyai-Maraw, Chaung-zon, Moulmein, Paung Townships in
Mon State and the Mon communities in Karen State, Pegu and Tenessarim
Divisions.

The Main Committee of Mon National Day, comprised of Mon State and Karen
State communities also celebrated the in event at Mon Dhamma Salar building
in Moulmein, the capital of Mon State.

According to MND organizer from Mudon, the main agenda expressed were to
protect Mon literature and culture, to keep the Mon identity strong and
alive and to build unity among the Mon people.

Liberated Area
The New Mon State Party organized the national celebration in the liberated
areas in 3 places and informed the people about the current political
deadlock in Burma. The NMSP Headquarters and Tavoy District sponsored the
ceremony at Wae-baing, in eastern Ye which was attended by 10,000 civilians
with Vice-President Nai Htin and Secretary General Nai Rot Sa.

The Mon National Day organized by the NMSP’s Moulmein and Thaton Districts
at Taung-bauk, Kya-inn-seikyi Township attracted 4,000 Mon people from the
area. The NMSP’s Three Pagodas Pass Township held the ceremony at
Palaing-Japan and about 3,000 population from various villages attended the
event. General Aung Naing, the Commander of the Mon National Liberation
Army and Colonel Nai Joi-Yeh, led the gathering.

No public celebration in Rangoon and Pegu has been reported. However, the
Mon communities there quietly gathered at temples and Dhamma Salar, the
celebration has been prohibited by the regime in Rangoon since last year.