Mon Women’s Day Joint Statement

 By

Mon Women’s Organization of America and Mon Women’s Organization (Canada)

                          12th day of 12th Month Lunar Calendar (March 10, 2006)

 

         Today, Mon women’s organizations inside Burma as well as Mon women’s organizations in exile are marking the Mon Women’s Day, which is celebrated on the birth date of a famous Mon queen Mi Jao Bu (12th day of 12th Month Lunar Calendar) in honor of her ability, grace, and truthfulness that brought the Honsawaddy Mon kingdom to the glory of peace and prosperity.  Queen Mi Jao Bu was the only queen who reigned in the history of Burma.

On this occasion, we would like to take the opportunity to express our deep concerns about the widespread sexual violence and sexual slavery, committed by Burmese soldiers and commanders, against ethnic women in Burma.

Burmese military regime is using systematic sexual violence against ethnic women as a weapon of war against Burma’s ethnic nationalities. Refugees International has confirmed in its report titled “No Safe Place” that sexual violence is systematic and committed both by officers and lower ranking soldiers, and rape is widespread and is affecting women from many ethnic groups including Mon, Karen, Karenni, and Shan. 

Burmese army troops have committed crimes against humanity.  Local human rights groups have documented that in some incidents women and girls are raped while their family members are forced to watch at gunpoint. Rape survivors and their families have suffered from such serious trauma that some end up committing suicide.  Some have fled to the Thailand-Burma border areas where they face various hardships. 

Sadly, as of this time, no mechanisms that will protect rape survivors from further risk are in place inside Burma or the border areas. Those who raise the issue of rape and sexual violence have been threatened and harassed by the military authorities. We are deeply concerned about the insecurity for rape survivors, their families, and their communities. 

On the occasion of Mon Women’s Day, we appeal to international community:

bulletTo use all possible means to pressure the Burmese military regime to end all forms of human rights violations;
bulletTo urgently take all necessary measures to ensure protection and humanitarian assistance to victims of sexual violence in Burma;

And, we call for the Burmese military regime:

bulletTo immediately stop human rights abuses, particularly sexual violence against ethnic women and girls;
bulletTo immediately withdraw all its troops and stop military expansion in ethnic areas;
bulletTo immediately begin tripartite dialogue with the National League for Democracy (NLD) and representatives of ethnic nationalities and begin the process of national reconciliation.