At the eighth celebration of Mon Youth Day, organizers released a statement calling for young people to support and engage in the Mon national political party.
Citing a recent skirmish involving “the Myanmar Army [Tatmadaw] and the Karen Border Guard Force efforts to occupy the Mon military base in Palaing Japan village, [there] is evidence of [growing] pressure. Our leaders reminded us that if we were weak, we would be persecuted. As a part of our responsibility for future national affairs, our young people will get involved in the Mon national politics.”
The eighth celebration of Mon Youth Day was held in Krone Guu village in Kyaik Mayaw Township on December 28th attracting 20,000 people including 50 different parades of Mon youth, monks, leaders of the New Mon State Party (NMSP) and the Mon Unity Party (MUP), Mon Youth organizations, the Mon Literature and Culture Association, the Mon Music Association, the Mon Writers Association, and numerous civil society organizations.
Mon Youth Day coincided with the eighth NMSP central committee conference, where NMSP members also urged young people to join the political party.
The NMSP sent a statement to the Mon Youth Day saying “the NMSP central committee conference is encouraging youth to serve, whether in an armed political party to gain self-determination or in the political party in a legal framework according to the Mon political path.”
The Chairman of Mon Youth Day, representatives from political parties, the Mon Hluttaw also voiced their support for more youth engagement in political party in their speeches.
At the request of local youth, the Ninth Mon Youth day will be in Ye Township, but details have yet to be decided.
Mon Youth Day events have a history dating back to December 28th 1946.
