Joint Statement of The Mon Women’s Association of America and Mon Women’s Organization ( Canada ) On The Mon Women’s Day

March 23, 2008

Mon Women’s Day commemorates the birthday of Mon Queen Banya Thou on 12th Waxing day of the 12th month, 755 Mon lunar year (March 23, 1394). Queen Banya Thou, also known as Mi Joa Bu or Shin Saw Bu, was the only ruling queen in the history of Burma and was famous for her effective governance. A historian B. R. Pearn, in his book of The History of Rangoon (1939), observed the queen that, "Two claims to fame are hers: one that she ruled the country well, no fair thing to say of Queen Victoria than to call her Shin Saw Bu reincarnate, and the other: that she embellished the Shwe Dagon Pagoda."  Mon women’s day is celebrated on the birth date of the queen in order for empowering Mon women to actively participate and take leadership roles in social, economic, and political processes.

Under the rule of Burmese military dictators, women are not assured of even their basic rights.  Several local and international human rights organizations have documented the grave abuses against women inflicted by the Burmese Army in the non-Burman ethnic territories. Ethnic women in conflict zones are regarded as ethnic insurgent sympathizers and are very often displaced, forced into labor, raped, and/or killed by the Burmese military. While the civilized world is moving forward to protect women against violence, the Burmese government is using violence against women as a weapon of war against ethnic nationalities in Burma .

Despite continued pressure from the international community the Burmese military regime has demonstrated an absolute lack of interest for a transformation to democracy and has only pursued finding means to continue to stay in power. The regime has refused to engage in a meaningful dialogue with the democratically elected representatives.  Furthermore, the regime continues to brutally crack down on democratic forces and arrest, prosecute, and imprison political activists. Currently, the Burmese regime announced to it’s decision to proceed with a referendum on a proposed constitution drafted by hand-picked delegates in a closed process. The regime subordinates are using terror tactics to intimidate the public and no UN representatives are allowed to observe the referendum.  We strongly object to the provisions adopted in the sham national convention that counter the democratization and national reconciliation.  We also oppose the referendum being held under such nontransparent and undemocratic conditions.

On this special occasion, we urge all Mon women in our Monland, overseas and everywhere in the world to be united; No matter where we are and what organization we are affiliated with, we should disregard the differences that exist among us and come together for our common goal of peace, freedom, and national dignity. 

 

Media contact:

Mi Pakao Rot Mon (USA), Tel: 260 441 0549, 260 447 7741, 260 486 016

Mi Ong Mon Chan (Canada), Tel : 403 475 1281