National Brotherhood Forum to Promote Ethnic Language Media

Independent Mon News Agency – On August 19, an alliance of six ethnic parties called the National Brotherhood Forum (NBF) signed an agreement to encourage and promote print media, newspapers, and journals in ethnic languages. The parties, including the All Mon Region Democracy Party (AMDP), described the pact as a move to advance ethnic languages and cultivate more ethnic learning materials for students.

The agreement was signed at a ceremony held in Rangoon, the former capital of Burma (Myanmar), by the Chairman of the AMDP, Nai Ngwe Thein, the Chairman of Chin National Party (CNP), Pu Zo Zam, the General Secretary of Palon-Sawor Democratic Party, Sabe Kyin Oo, the Chairman of Arakan National Progressive Party, U Tin Win, the General Secretary of Shan National Democratic Party, Sai Hla Kyaw, and the General Secretary of Kayan National Party, Sakhun Nan Yee.

After the signing, a statement was released to the media and other ethnic nationality political parties that noted additional objectives along with the preservation of ethnic languages.

NBF leaders called on the central government and its population census committee to accurately gather names, ethnic identities, and religions in the nationwide population census it plans to conduct this coming year.

The leaders also demanded the government recruit more ethnic public servants in the ethnic regions and transfer current ethnic government personnel to serve in their respective areas of origin.

In July, the AMDP asked the government to allow the Mon mother tongue to be taught in government schools and recognized as an official language of Mon areas.

AMDP leaders emphasized that once Mon language is permitted in government schools, students will need ample learning materials and would benefit from an increase in Mon newspapers, journals, and other publications.

Although a few Mon publications are currently in print in Mon State, such as the Amart-dein Journal, Guiding Star Mon Newspaper, and The Voice of Mon Journal, they are all unofficial.

In Karen and Shan States, most communities have their own magazines and journals, and ethnic leaders will similarly encourage publishers to produce more materials in their own ethnic languages.

Modern Mon literature has been developing since the 15th century, despite restrictions placed on the language after the Mon people lost their kingdom in 1757. Once Burma regained independence in 1948, the parliamentary government of U Nu authorized Mon language instruction in Mon region, or the southern part of Burma.

After Gen. Ne Win seized political power in 1962, he abolished the education system that allowed ethnic languages in classrooms.