The Committee of Mon Population Data Collection began gathering data on the Mon population in Tenasserim Division in January 2014, and has collected population statistics of more than 62,000 Mon people living in the division.
“So far, we have more than 62,000 Mon people [living in Tenasserim Division], and there are some far-off areas, and some people left to gather information on, but, we will continue to collect [population statistics] there,” said Mi Ngwe Lay, from the Committee of Mon Population Data Collection.
Mi Ngwe Lay continued that the data collected on the Tenasserim Division’s Mon population would be submitted to the Tenasserim Division Government, Union Government, and the Union Hluttaw. Then, in the 2015 elections, the committee would work hard to have a minister representing the Mon population in the Tenasserim Division.
According to Mon State Hluttaw Representative Min San Tin, data is being collected in order to get an accurate number of the Mon population, and to appoint ministers representing Mon people in other non-Mon states and divisions in which there is a Mon population.
“In other states and divisions,[if]there are only 60,000 Mon [in each state or division], and a minister representing Mon people can be appointed there,” said Min San Tin, in an interview with IMNA.
Of the ten townships in Tenasserim Division, the majority of Mon live in Yebyu Township, with smaller populations in other areas, including Tavoy, Mergui, Kawthaung, and Tenasserim cities.
Similar to the Tenasserim Division, the UEC also stated that there are less than 60,000 Mon living in Rangoon Division, but the Committee of Mon Population Data Collection has been gathering data of the Mon population in Rangoon Division to get a more accurate number.
