7/29/2019 66th MND English

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Statement on the 66th Anniversary of Mon National Day 

Mon Affairs Union 

In 1116 Buddhist Era (573 A.D.), two Mon princes, Samala and Wimala, founded the Mon

Kingdom, Hongsawatoi (Pegu) on the 1st

Wane of Maik (11th

month of Mon Lunar Calendar). Mon

people marked this historic day as the Mon National Day. This year, the Mon National Day falls on

February the 26th

. On this auspicious day, Mon people around the world once again whole-

heartedly celebrate the Mon National Day.

The celebration of Mon National Day marked with political meaning started in 1947. In the eve of 

Burma’s independence from the British, Mon people demanded political and cultural rights from

Burma’s Anti-Fascist People's Freedom League (AFPFL) government. The government, however,

claimed that the Mon and Burman were ethnically the same and denied the rights of the Mon. To

publicly refute the government’s baseless claim, the Mon held a national conference in Pagna

village, Sobbu Township in 1946. In order to mark one of the historic and ethnic distinctions of the

Mon people, the conference set forth the public celebration of the Mon National Day and was first

celebrated in Waedot village in Takaw Khamine in 1947.

Every successive Burmese government has continued to deny the rights of ethnic people since

Burma gained her independence from the British in 1948 until present day. As a result, Burma has

been in civil war for over 60 years. Although the current Burmese government has reached cease-

fire agreements with all major ethnic armed groups except the Kachin Independence Organization

(KIO), the government has not yet initiated any meaningful political dialogue with cease fire armed

organizations as promised. This is an important indication that the government’s national

reconciliation effort is not sincere. Unless there is political dialogue, Burma’s political problem

cannot be solved, peace cannot be achieved, and economic development cannot be sustained.

Therefore, in order to establish a genuine democratic federal union and achieve lasting peace, we

urge:

1.U Thein Sein’s government to immediately engage meaningful political dialogue with the United

Nationalities Federal Council (UNFC), and to support the development of agriculture, education,

and health programs and improve human rights in Mon regions.

2. the Mon people including Mon political parties, Mon armed organizations, Mon civil societies,

and Mon business organizations to strengthen unity during the democratic process;

3. all the ethnic nationalities to be united for future political dialogue with Burmese governmentand for achieving genuine democratic federal union and permanent peace in Burma.

February 26, 2013

1st

Wane of Maik, 1374