Min Thuta – The 65th Mon National Day ceremony will be legally and openly held this coming Wednesday 8th of February in Rangoon after over a decade of bans and restrictions. The ceremony will be begin at 5pm in Public Park in Dagon Township, Rangoon as reported by the Myanmar state run newspaper, The Mirror.
“The celebration for the 50th Golden Jubilee Mon National Day in Pa-Done-Mar Theater was the last time [that we celebrated the Mon National Day]. After that the ceremony of flagging [Mon national flag] and other enjoyable ceremonies haven’t been allowed to cerebrated in Rangoon,” said Nai Soe Kyi secretary of Mon National Day Celebrating Committee (Rangoon).
As previously reported by IMNA, restrictions from by the military government were beginning to lift in 2009 when the first Mon National Day celebrations were held in Rangoon since the 1995 ceasefire agreement between New Mon State Party and the government.
“Shops of traditional foods and handicrafts, entertainment [consisting] of Mon traditional dances and modern music, and a short play about [Mon Queen] Shin Saw Pu ascending the throne will be included [in the ceremony],” continued Nai Soe Kyi.
Prior to 2009 there were heavy restrictions on distributing Mon National Day advertisements and the government strongly discouraged ethnic displays of nationalism. However, in 2009 a banner announcing Mon National Day was permitted to hang in the Mon Community hall in Rangoon. Celebrations in ethnic villages were also permitted for the first time, though they had previously been observed in Mon State.
“Mon National Day of this year is the most significant one. Every authority in the past didn’t award the permission (of celebrating Mon National Day) even though we have been struggling for cerebration; however, the permission of cerebrating Mon National Day has been awarded only in the era of this government,” said Min Min Nwe, the contact person of Mon National Day Cerebrating Committee (Center).
In 2008, Mon National Day celebrations were still banned outright in the capital, Rangoon. Irrawaddy News reported that large numbers flocked to the Moulmein, capital city of Mon State, to observe the day instead.
The 65th Mon National Day Celebrating Committee for Rangoon the events is led by Chairman Nai Phae Tin, Vice-chairman (1) Nai Saw Oo, Vice-chairman (2) Mi Kon Chit Chit, Vice-chairman (3) Mi Kyin Than, Secretary Nai Soe Kyi and Joint-secretary Min Raja.
The chief minister of Mon State will give a speech at Mon State Hall in Moulmein where large Mon National Day celebrations will also occur. The chief minister of Karen State will also give a speech at the central stage of Kaw Bain Village, according to Min Min news.
The Mon National Day Celebrating Committee Center consists of township-leveled Mon National Day cerebrating committees in the Rangoon and Pague Divisions, and Mon and Karen States.
