By LAWI WENG – Mudon Speaking in front of hundreds of Mon people at a festival celebrating the settling of the crown at Kyaik Zel Pagoda in Kamarwat village on April 17th in Mudon Township, Mon State, Ohn Mying, the Mon State Prime Minister affirmed that his new government will work on development for the Mon People in Mon State.
“We just formed our new government. Our new government will build peace and development and stability in Mon State,” he said.
Respected senior Mon Buddhist monks in Kamarwat village respectfully gave Ohn Myint the opportunity to settle the new crown of the pagoda at the opening ceremony. During which Ohn Myint request unity and cooperation with the new government from the people attending.
Hundreds of Mon people attending wore Mon traditional dress of red and white and welcomed Ohn Myint at the ceremony. He said hello in the Mon language and mentioned that he was born in Mudon Township and is also Mon.
While Ohn Myint’s task was to carry the crown of the pagoda, the two Mon civilian ministers, Min Nwe Soe and Nai Lawi Oung, who are also members of the new government, carried other equipment for the crown.
Ohn Myint’s presence at the ceremony required the monks to chant in both Mon and Burmese, causing complaints by Mon observers who wished only to hear the Mon language.
The two Mon ministers who accompanied Ohn Myint were Min Nwe Soe, the social and cultural minister, and Nai Lawi Oung, the energy and electric minister. Both wore traditional Mon wear. Many participants expressed happiness in seeing two Mon men appointed as members of the new government believing that Mon issues will be fought for with these two as representatives.
After Naypyidaw announced the new government in Mon State, Min Nwe Soe met with Mon farmers at different villages in Mon State asking them about their needs.
The farmers in Kamarwat and Kalawthut villages proposed a reformation of their farms, where the dam in Abisht village, in Mudon Township has destroyed over 5,000 acres of farmland.
Meanwhile, the Mon have quite different views of the new government, some believing that the approval of two Mon ministers will aid the Mon people. Others believe that the new government will be the same as the old military government.
Nai Sein, a community leader in Kamarwat village, explained that his 10 acres of land was destroyed by the dam and therefore agreed to meet with Min Nwe Soe for his first opportunity to explain what happened to people’s land in 2000 due to the construction of the dam.
Mon farmers in Mudon Township have not had the opportunity to ask for compensation from the Abhit dam which destroyed their farm land and livelihoods.
“I believe he [Min Nwe Soe] will work for us to reform our farmland,” said Nai Sein.
However, Nai Aung Kyi, another farmer from Kalathut village said that he is worried that this new government will be the same as the military regime.
Some Mon people have raised questions on how the two Mon ministers will be able to help them while they still have to listen to orders from old members of the military regime who are now members of parliament. The new government has offered incentives to newly appointed ministers such as cars, homes, and good salaries. Both have received two cars since being appointed.
The government is currently building new housing in Moulmein for new government ministers to reside.
“They [the two Mon ministers] will only get this opportunity one time if they do not work for the Mon,” said Tun Naing, a member of All Mon Regions Democracy Party, explaining that the Mon ministers have four years before the next elections during which they need to prove to the people that they are working for Mon interests.
