Statement on the 241st anniversary of the falling day of Mon Kingdom Hongsawatoi
May 18, 1998
May 18, 1998 is an unforgettable day for the Mon people as it is the 241st anniversary of the falling day of Mon kingdom Hongsawatoi. In the year 573, two Mon brothers, Prince Samala and Wimala, founded the Mon kingdom Hongsawatoi at the present site of modern Pegu, today's Pago in lower Burma. The Mon kingdom flourished in peace and prosperity for several centuries until it was occupied by the Burman dynasty. In 1757, the Burman ruler U Aungzeya invaded and devastated the Mon kingdom, killing tens thousands of Mon, including learned Mon priests, pregnant women, and children. Over three thousands priests were massacred by the victorious Burman in the capital city alone as well as countless thousands of priests throughout the countryside. Most of the Mon literature, written on palm leaves, was destroyed by the conquering Burman. Use of the Mon language was forbidden and Burman became the only medium of instruction. Following that, the Mon people were persecuted, oppressed, enslaved, and countless people were burnt in ruthless holocausts similar to the destruction of Jews by the Nazi.
Moreover, the current situation of Mon people has become worse and worse. The current Burmese military regime uses ethnic cleansing policies to clean out diverse ethnic groups, including the Mon. The Burmese troops committed serious human rights violations such as rape, looting, forced labor, and summary execution of innocent civilians in Monland. Since 1988, thousands of Mon people have fled to refugee camps along the Thailand-Burma border to escape the oppression in their homeland.
On this tragic day, the Mon people living in Burma and around the world express their grief and regretfully mourn for their slaughtered ancestors. On the 241st anniversary of the falling day of our kingdom, we, Monland Restoration Council, on behalf of the silenced, forgotten, and suppressed Mon people everywhere, strongly protest against the Burmese military regime in front of its embassy in Washington, D.C., USA.
We call for: