(Mawlamyine) In the morning of February 11, youth from Mon, Karen, and Pa-O communities joined with approximately 1,000 local people under a banner saying “All dictators are revolutionary”.
“We do not want a military dictatorship and we do not want any dictator, ethnic military dictator or a democratic dictator. That is why we are protesting against all dictators” said a Mon youth.
Ethnic communities are concerned the military coup will slow down their desire for a federal democratic union.
Ethnic youth shouted their reasons for the protest, “To fight the dictatorship, to repeal the 2008 constitution. [To advocate for] … the emergence of a federal democratic union… release the unjustly detained politicians.”
One Pa-O youth said, “Our people’s need is for self-determination and equality. And this can only be done on the path to democracy. Now that the military has taken power, political talks have waned. As a result, ethnic issues and needs may disappear. So we have to eradicate the military dictatorship, and we oppose it.”
Protests to the military junta continue across the county. The voices and presence of many ethnic nationalities could be seen and heard in on-going protests in Yangon. This included the voices from the Kachin, Karen, Chin, Mon, Rakhine, Shan, Burma, Lisu, Wa, Pa-O, Ta’ang (Palaung), Kadu, Dynet, Myoe, Inn Thar, Maramakyi, Tet, peoples, as well as Tamils, Hindus and Muslims.
Crowds gathered at Myay Ni Gone Padoma Park at 8 am and marched to Shwedagon Pagoda, where it is estimated 10,000 people gathered.
Susanna Hla Hla Soe, who has been elected Karen Ethnic Affairs Minister said, “During the previous government, I served as a member of parliament for five years. But under the 2008 constitution, we were not allowed to do anything. It is my experience that the demands of our ethnic groups faded under 2008. Therefore, I would like to say that we boldly support the repeal of the 2008 constitution.”
The Minister called for the abolition of the dictatorship, and noted the 2008 constitution hinders the establishment of a democractic federal union where all ethnic groups can live together peacefully.
