MON NATIONAL SCHOOLS COME UNDER FIRE

 (By Kao Wao: May 23, 2004)

Local commander of State Peace and Development Council ordered Mon national schools in southern Ye to work under government control.

A source from Mon State reported Captain Htay Aung of Infantry Battalion No. 61 warned Mon teachers on May 16 at Yan Rae village that they must immediately stop teaching Mon education. 

Captain Htay Aung, said the Mon national schools must be under government control starting from this year and follow all curriculum and instructions issued by the SPDC’s administration.

Last month, Colonel Myo Winn warned the teachers at Kao Jaer village that they must stop teaching Mon; otherwise their schools will be shut down indefinitely.

Even though the New Mon State Party reached a cease-fire agreement with the military junta with Mon schools being allowed to operate, the military junta occasionally disturbs Mon literature and culture movements. 

A spokesperson from the NMSP’s Sangkhalaburi office said the Mon leaders and civilians are very upset with the junta’s suppression policy, which could sour relationships between the NMSP and the SPDC in the future. 

A local source reported the military junta threatens national teachers whenever they want to pressure the Mon political movement. Many teachers have been arrested, tortured, forced to resign, and physically or sexually harassed by the authorities, accused of being involved in politics or supporting the anti-government groups in the past. 

In southern Ye township, about 100 Mon teachers are teaching over 7,000 children at 30 schools. For several years, the Mon national schools in the rural areas are well organized and self-supported by the Mon National Education Committee of NMSP.