General Statement

by Mon Unity League (MUL)

From February 5th through 7th the Mon Unity League held an International Conference on Mon National Affairs, the 3rd Congress of the MUL. Representatives from Monland, the Thai-Mon community of Thailand and international Mon representatives from the United States, Australia and Canada convened and discussed matters of politics, economics, human rights as well as social and cultural affairs as they intersect with Mon National concerns. The conference representing Mon people reached broad consensus about these areas as summarized below.

The MUL welcomes the UN General Assembly's resolutions concerning Burma but insists and will accept only a tri-partite political dialogue between the military regime, the democratic forces led by the NLD (National League for Democracy) and the non-Burman ethnic minorities to whom Burma is home. Such a tripartite dialogue is absolutely necessary if genuine solutions are to crafted

for Burma's many problems. Any agreement reached without the input and consensus of the many ethnic minorities which include the Mon will have failed from the outset by its very partial and incomplete nature. The MUL supports the MNDF (Mon National Democratic Front) and the NMSP (New Mon State Party) to speak for the Mon in such dialogue.

Furthermore, the MUL welcomes and encourages the input and participation of the international community in efforts to bridge the gap between the NLD, the SPDC and the various ethnic minorities of Burma.

Although the NMSP has for its part and for over five years conformed to the cease fire agreement entered into with the SLORC/SPDC military government of Burma in 1996, the human rights situation in Mon areas of Burma have not improved as had been expected. In many respects similar to the fates of Burma's other under and unrepresented ethnic minorities, the Mon continue to suffer from regular and frequent conscription of forced labor (including as porters for the military), various types of illegal and arbitrary taxes, paddy collection and land seizures, as well as continued interruption and harassment of Mon efforts in language education and cultural and literary production.

MNDF was banned by the military government for freedom of association and assembly and many of its leaders imprisoned for their support of the Committee Representing People's Parliament (CRPP). Due to continued political and arbitrary oppression and economic mis-management many Mon face unemployment and poverty. As a result many young Mon have migrated to Thailand, thus worsening the gap between the problems facing Burma and the younger generations who are

the ones best suited to pursuing solutions.

The MUL believes that the current problems confronting the Mon and other ethnic minorities as well as the whole of Burma and all her people can be solved peacefully through dialogue, negotiation and political means. For a genuine dialogue to take place, however, the military government must

1) enter into a cease fire with all of the ethnic minority opposition

groups in Burma

2) declare an amnesty and free all political prisoners and persons detained for opposition activities

The delegates to the MUL congress also seek sincerity among all parties to the continuing dilemma facing Burma. The UN, ASEAN and the international community must play a mediating role in political dialogue which is to be meaningful and successful. The MUL strongly seeks peaceful solutions for the problems of Burma.

During this 3rd Congress of the MUL, 9 Executive Committee Members were elected by the delegates. Each of these Executive Committee persons heads up one of the 9 Facilitating Committees on Political Affairs, Justice and Human Rights, Literature and Culture, Foreign Affairs; Public Relations, Education, Public Health, Women's Rights and Youth Development. From these committees, the MUL will continue to conduct its activities related to the welfare of the Mon people in Burma, Thailand and abroad.

Executive Committee

Mon Unity League

Date: February 15, 2001

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Report on International Conference on Mon National Affairs

by Mon Unity League (MUL)

Background of MUL

The Mon Unity League (MUL) is a Mon umbrella organization which is comprised of representatives from major Mon groups from Burma, Thailand and abroad. The MUL was formed after the Seminar on Mon National Affairs in 1994 and held its first Congress in 1996, the second in 1998.

The main aims of the MUL are as follows:

(1) To strengthen the cause of unity and solidarity of the Mon people and Mon Nation

(2) To uphold and promote the achievements of the Mon struggle achieved to this point

(3) To work for the improvement of the Mon people and Nation

(4) To restore Monland as the Mon Nation

A plan to conduct a broadly representative International MUL Congress

involving representatives from all the Mon communities world-wide resulted in a

decision to postpone the 3rd Conference from 2000 to February 2001.

International Conference in 2001

 

From February 5th through the 7th, 2001 the MUL convened an International

Conference on Mon National Affairs in a safe place along the Thai-Burma

border. Key representatives from Mon organizations in Burma, Thailand and from abroad

were invited to participate. About 60 representatives from the Mo communities of Burma, Thailand and other nations (notably Australia, the USA and Canada) attended.

The Conference discussed topics as outlined below:

I. The current political situation for the Mon Nation and Mon people

II. To review and form policy regarding such matters as affect the Mon people...

(a) The roles of Mon Literature, Culture and Mon National Education

(b) Mon Arts and Traditions

(c) Economic conditions and development

(d) Health and Medical conditions

(e) Women's Issues

(f) Youth Issues and Programs

(g) Human and Labor rights

(h) Environmental Concerns

III. Toward adopting and implementing future MUL plans and activities

Growing out of discussions of the preceding issues the representatives to the

conference reached consensus regarding the greater number of issues under

consideration.

 

Conference Decisions

 

Politics

 

1. The MUL welcomes the progress of political negotiation between the NLD

(National League of Democracy) and the SPDC (State Peace and Development

Committee). The MUL, however, along with other of the non-Burman ethnic

minorities from Burma, strongly suggest that "tripartite" discussions between

the SPDC, NLD and the representatives of the ethnic minorities of Burma

represent the only feasible means to attain progress in solving Burma's many

problems. The MUL supports the Mon National Democratic Front (MNDF) and the

New Mon State Party (NMSP) as the Mon People's representatives in these

inevitable negotiations.

 

2. The MUL believes that it is a requirement to formulate a comprehensive Mon

Nationalist policy based on the long Mon political and religious history, the

many accomplishments in Mon arts, music and culture.

 

3. The cease-fire entered into with the ruling military government has not

been beneficial to the Mon People and the MUL contends that it is part of a

larger plan to disenfranchise the Mon people and destroy the Mon Nation. Over

the course of the cease-fire, it has remained SPDC state policy to practice a

conquer and divide policy against the Mon people and their political and

cultural institutions. This policy is likewise practiced on many of the other

non-Burman ethnicities. The MUL urges all Mons to exercise caution and care

in their life's efforts in order to maintain a strength of purpose among Mon

People.

 

4. It is a requirement to strengthen Mon organizations inside Burma which

have been financially and organizationally weakened due to continued economic difficulty in Mon areas. A strong and coordinated set of efforts from among

the various Mon organizations and individuals is necessary to further the goals

and identity of the Mon.

 

5. The MUL practices and supports efforts in the areas of expanding the basic

human rights available to the Mon and to all people regardless of their

ethnicity. Efforts in diplomacy, international information campaigns and

non-violent struggle form an important aspect of the MUL's practice.

 

Other Mon Issues

6. The MUL believes it is absolutely necessary to work to protect and promote

Mon language, literature, culture and traditions in Mon areas of Burma and

wherever Mon live.

 

7. To strengthen Mon language and culture in the face of continued Burmese

ethnocentrism and racist hegemony the MUL will undertake to create and

maintain a Mon National University. This undertaking should be coordinated with Mon

and international scholars.

8. The MUL will join with foreign scholars and institutions to conduct

research on Mon Literature, Medicine, Music and other traditions.

 

9. The MUL supports and undertakes to develop the Mon Nation economically in

a manner conducive to Mon National aspirations.

 

10. The MUL does not enter as a party in economic matters but rather

encourages community development projects and Mon entrepreneurship.

 

11. The MUL requires continued funding to work toward the goals of the Mon

People and Nation.

 

12. The MUL will conduct public health education projects in rural Mon

communities.

 

13. In a more comprehensive manner, the MUL will undertake to support

Women's empowerment projects and activities in Mon areas.

14. A renewed effort to develop Mon youth in politics, economics and

education will be pursued. Youth organizations will be encouraged to link

together in a more coordinated and organized manner.

 

15. As a new activity, MUL will conduct for youth development politically,

economically, in education and others. Youth communities will coordinate each

other for their own development.

Decision on MUL Future Activity

1. To implement all MUL activities in various fields, MUL also established

the following facilitating committees:

(a) Committee on Politics,

(b) Committee on Justices and Human Rights,

(c) Committee on Literature and Culture,

(d) Committee on Foreign Affairs and Information,

(e) Committee on Public Relations,

(f) Committee on Education,

(g) Committee on Public Health,

(H) Committee on Women's Affairs,

(i) Committee on Youth Development.

Note: Although MUL has plan to form another two committees, (1) Committee on

Labor Rights and (2) Committee on Environment, it has no member organizations

and individuals that are directly involved in these activities.

Participation

On the last day of conference, former MUL executive members resigned from

their positions and called for a reformation of MUL with new members. Depending on

an organization's members, each organization could provide at least 3

representatives and a maximum of 7 representatives for larger organizations.

Some individual representatives were also selected by agreement of two-third

member organizations. The member organizations for new MUL and numbers

of representatives are as below:

(1) Thai-Mon Youth Community, Bangkok -7 representatives

(2) Mon Youth Association, Mon State -3 representatives

(3) All Mon Youth Organization -3 representatives

(4) Mon Literature Promotion Association -3 representatives

(5) Mon Women Rights Organization -3 representatives

(6) Mon Youth Organization, Sangkhlaburi -3 representatives

(7) Mon Literature and Culture Committee, Mon State -3 representatives

(8) Committee for Dry Season Mon Literacy Training -3 representatives

(9) Mon Information Service -3 representatives

(10) Human Rights Foundation of Monland -3 representatives

(11) Mon National Democratic Front, Australia -3 representatives

(12) Individual representatives -8 representatives

Therefore, these 45 representatives became Central Committee members of MUL.

Election of Central Executive Committee

From the above 45 CC members, 9 Executive Committee members were elected by

representatives and names of EC members and their positions are as below:

1. Nai Damrong Pungbangkadee -Chairperson

2. Nai Khool Leal -Vice-Chairperson (1)

3. Nai Lwi Mon -Vice-Chairperson (2)

4. Nai Sunthorn Sripanngern -General Secretary

5. Nai Kasuah Mon -Joint Secretary (1)

6. Nai Wimon -Joint-Secretary (2)

7. Phra Wongsa Pala -Treasurer

8. Nai Yeup -Auditor, Coordinator for activities in Thailand and abroad

9. Nai Lawor Mon -Coordinator for activities in Burma

Formation of Facilitating Committees

According to the Conference's decision no.16, the MUL CC formed the following

committees and persons in-charge as below:

(a) Committee on Politics -Nai Sunthorn Sripanngern (In-charge)

(b) Committee on Justices and Human Rights, -Phra Wongsa Pala (In-charge for

Justice), Nai -Kasuah Mon (In-charge for Human Rights)

(c) Committee on Literature and Culture, -Nai Org Pung (In-charge)

(d) Committee on Foreign Affairs and Information -Nai Wimon (In-charge for

Foreign Affairs)

-Nai Thet Lwin (In-charge for Information)

(e) Committee on Public Relations, -Nai Taing Htaw (In-charge)

(f) Committee on Education, -Nai Tun Way (In-charge)

(g) Committee on Public Health, -Nai Khoon Leal (In-charge)

(h) Committee on Women's Affairs, -Mi Layaing Mon (In-charge)

(i) Committee on Youth Development. -Nai Yeup (In-charge)

Expression of Thankfulness

In order to organize an International Conference on Mon National Affairs or

MUL's 3rd Congress, the MUL appealed MUL 's International Representatives in

the US and Canada to seek funds from donor agencies interested in the

restoration of democracy, human rights and peace in Burma.

The representatives also applied for financial assistance to OSI which NGO

agency agreed to assist with 5,000 US Dollar for Conference. Without this

financial assistance from OSI, MUL would have no chance to organize such an

International Conference. Therefore, we would like to express our

thankfulness to OSI, Burma Project for its kindness and assistance.

Executive Committee

Mon Unity League

Date: February 15, 2001