Min Thu Tha – Prominent Mon political parties are busy preparing for the 7th Mon National Seminar that will take place at the State Hall in the Mon state capital of Moulmein by month’s end. This will be the first time the seminar has been held in the capital since the formation on Mon state in Moulmein in 1974.
The New Mon State Party (NMSP), All Mon Regions Democracy Party (AMDP) and MDP are jointly hosting the three day event that starts on Sept. 28. The seminar is expected to attract 250 representatives from various organizations across the country. About a hundred attendees will also be attending as observers.
During a recent organizing meeting the agenda was laid down. The NMSP will give a speech about how to form “long term domestic peace in the near future”. The MDP will discuss ways to advocate for unity amongst the entire Mon ethnicity. AMDP will discuss ways to bring about peace that will promote development across the county. Various Thai based Mon groups will talk about the upcoming Mon National Conference that will also take place in Moulmein at the end of December. Overseas Mon civil society organizations will discuss developing a national strategy for Mon populations in Burma.
The seminar will also serve as a “preliminary conference” for the different Mon political parties and organizations who want to get involved with the December conference. This will help to make it “better and larger”, Min Kyi Win said.
Before Burma gained independence in 1946 the Mon National Association (MNA) organized the first Mon National conference was held in Pa-nga village, Thanbyuzayat Township (at that time the village was part of Kyaikkami Township). Thousands attended the conference.
Participants agreed to create the Mon National Day on the same date that Mon Kingdom the Hongsawatoi was established (the Burmese/Mon Lunar Calendar Tabodwe (Maik in Mon) Waning Day 1 of the 1116 Buddhist Era, or 573 CE). They also decided to request exclusive electoral constituencies for Mon people for the upcoming elections. There was a boycott of the elections planned if Gen Aung San of the ruling Anti-Fascist People’s Freedom League (AFPFL) didn’t allow this.
The upcoming September seminar is also expected to attract Buddhist monks, youth, Mon civil society groups and Mon literature and culture organizations. Popular Mon musicians will also be in attendance.
Previously the Mon National Seminar was held every second year in NMSP’s controlled territories. The last one took place in Baleh Doon Phite village in January of last year.
