MONS CALL FOR CHANGE ( Kao-Wao ) February 19, 2003

MONS CALL FOR CHANGE

(Kao-Wao, February 19, 2003)

The cease-fire group, New Mon State Party, urged the military junta of Burma to commence with a political dialogue on the occasion of Mon national day, held in the jungle in Southern Burma.

Presided by Vice-president Nai Htin and Secretary General Nai Rotsa, over 10,000 civilians attended a mass assembly at which the NMSP publicly announced their deep disappointment with the regime’s organized land confiscation, which has been for the Burmese military logistics. Land confiscation has forced the Mon people from their land and homes sending them to Thailand as migrants and pushing them into destitution in an already poor country.

The mass assembly was followed by a colorful military parade. Everywhere richly dressed women and men in bright red accompanied the Mon audience who gathered to celebrate the 56^th anniversary of the Mon National Day at Wae Baing near the headquarters of NMSP in Monland.

The statement expressed the views of many in the audience, that the Mon have lost their freedom, in the form of political, fundamental and human rights under the present regime, the large crowd traveled by foot and trucks from the rural and urban areas in Mon State to join the traditional event. The party urged Mon nationals to unite and to continue the struggle for liberation as their historic duty, yet to be achieved, to join hands with other democratic forces in Burma and around the world to convince the Burmese junta to hold a political dialogue with the opposition ethnic and democratic groups toward establishing peace.

The NMSP expressed its alarm over the increase in the number of military bases in Mon State, territorial land confiscation and other human rights abuses by the Burmese military runned government. The cease-fire party clarified that the cease-fire deal with the regime required a political solution to settle the problems through political means but the dialogue has not yet been implemented by the regime. At another ceremony, which took place at Palaing Japan, near the Thai-Burma border, Colonel Joi-Yeh, a Central Committee member stated that, “the NMSP signed a ceasefire agreement for the sole purpose to find a solution through political means, but the Burmese have not made any moves toward a dialogue. We call on all Mons to unite and work with other nationals to bring peace and justice.

The NMSP sponsored National Day was held at three places in Ye, KyaIn-Seikyi and Palaing Japan, Thai-Burma border.

The NMSP fifth congress before the National Day launched five tasks to strengthen unity among the Mons, to build solidarity with other nationals, to achieve a nationwide cease-fire agreement, and promote the view that a political solution in the form of a tripartite dialogue is crucial toward establishing a multi-party democratic system and a genuine Federal Union in Burma.

The NMSP was founded in July 1958 when the Mon Peoples Front (MPF) surrendered to the U Nu’s Parliamentary government declaring to Mon supporters that it was an exchange of arms for democracy. Since it was founded Nai Shwe Kyin (91 years), who now lives in Moulmein retains the position of President. The party reached a cease-fire agreement with the Burmese military in 1995.

Meanwhile, 18 worldwide Mon organizations from four continents (Europe, Australia, Asia, North America) issued a joint statement commemorating the 56^th anniversary and called for the release of Mon leaders and all political prisoners in Myanmar and the immediate halting of land confiscation in Mon State.