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Joint-statement on the 64th Anniversary of the Mon National Day

February 19, 2011

 

 

 

Today, once again, Mon people around the world mark the Mon National Day. The Mon National Day is annually celebrated on the founding day of the last Mon Kingdom, Hongsawatoi, by the two Mon princes, Samala and Wimala, in 1116 BE (572 AD). It has been 64 years since the Mon National Day was conceived with the purpose of promoting the Mon national spirit and unity to regaining the rights of Mon people. On this auspicious day, we strongly urge all the Mon from every corner of the Globe to come together, strengthen our unity and patriotism, and rise up to restore an autonomous Mon State.

 

The Mon established prosperous kingdoms in today’s lower Burma and enjoyed the rights of sovereign nations for many centuries. However, the last Mon kingdom, Hongsawatoi, was invaded and occupied by the Burman in 1757. Ever since, the Mon have been enslaved in their own land by the political duplicity and military might of the successive Burmese governments.

 

In the civilized world, racial oppressions and violations of human rights are no longer acceptable. However, Burmese governments continue to oppress and deny the rights of the Mon as well as other ethnic nationalities in Burma. In consequence, wars between the Burmese military and ethnic armed forces have been ongoing for more than a half century. No doubt, the chauvinism in the Burmese leaderships is a major reason for Burma, once Southeast Asia’s richest nation, to become one of the poorest countries in the world.

 

The current Burmese military regime claims that it pursues the policy of ethnic integration and harmony. However, in reality, the regime redrew the country’s constitution to guarantee the twenty five percent of parliamentary seats for serving military officers. Despite tremendous efforts from ethnic leaders and ethnic cease-fire armed groups, the regime’s constitution does not include any ethnic rights. The regime has threatened or taken severe actions against the leaders of ethnic nationalities who propose to establish a federal political system in Burma. The regime has turned a blind eye to the fact that the people of Burma will never be able to live in harmony and enjoy their basic human rights unless Burma becomes a genuine federal union. The regime has blindly labeled the Federalism as Separatism and used this propaganda to deceive the people of Burma. In fact, all the claims and acts of the regime are nothing but just to prolong its stay on power.

 

With the aim of solving Burma’s ethnic conflicts in peaceful means, thirteen ethnic armed groups, including the New Mon State Party, signed cease-fire agreements with the regime in 1990s. Instead of solving the problems through dialogue, the regime broke its promises and has forced ethnic cease-fire groups to transform into the Border Guard Forces (BGF), which must operate under the control of the regime’s army. The regime has already lunched military offences against some cease-fire groups who refused to transform into the BGF. Therefore, a full blown civil war is inevitable at this point in time.

 

As history has repeatedly proved, Burma’s political problems cannot be solved through oppressions or forces. A lasting political solution can be reached only through tripartite dialogue among Burma’s democratic forces led by Daw Aung San Su Kyi, leaders of ethnic nationalities, and the military regime.

The convening of second Panlong conference in accordance with the 21st century situations can facilitate the much needed political dialogue for national reconciliation.

 

Therefore, on this auspicious day, we urge:

· All the people of Burma to support the convening of second Panglong conference, in order to establish a genuine federal union and bring national reconciliation.

· The international community to continue to support the democratic changes in Burma.

· The Mon people around the world to strengthen unity and patriotism in order to regain our rights to self-determination.

 

 

The statement is jointly issued by:

 

1. Australia Mon Association (AMA)

2. Euro Mon Community

3. Mon Canadian Society

4. Monland Restoration Council (USA)

5. The Mon Women's Association of America (MWAA)

6. The Working Committee of the 64th Mon National Day Celebration (Malaysia)