A five-point statement that included a call to overthrow the military dictatorship and to establish a federal state was issued on 13 March to commemorate the 18th Mon Women’s Day.
Mi Lawi Han, an Amyotha Hluttaw member from Ye Township, and member of the Mon Women’s Day organizing group, explained that the statement calls for the establishment of a federal state where all ethnic nationalities can participate in its development, that arrested political leaders be released and there must be an immediate end to human rights abuses
The release of the statement coincides with Mon Women’s Day ceremonies taking place in many communities across the country.
According to the Mon Women’s Day Organizing committee, the aim of these activities is to mobilize and raise the morale of women for the benefit of the Mon peoples.
One of the participants said, “Women need to know the laws that apply to them if they want to break into politics. If you do not own the law, you will not be able to intervene. If we want to change the law, we must encourage Mon women to understand the law.”
The Mon Women’s Network includes the Mon Women’s Organization (MWO), Mon National Education Committee (MNEC), Mon National Health Committee (MNHC), Jeepyah Civil Society Development Organization (JCSDO), Mon Saetana Foundation, MI Organization (MI Org), and the Mon Youth Progressive Organization (MYPO), and the Mon Youth Education Organization (MYEO) amongst other groups.
The 12th of Tabaung or waxing moon, is the birthday of Mon Queen Shin Saw Pu. She was born in 775 A.D., in Hanthawaddy Nay Pyi Taw. Shin Saw Pu was the only Mon Queen of Myanmar, and the daughter of Mon King Razadarit.
Her birth date has been designated as Mon Women’s Day. Celebrations were held at the Pai Khet Hall in Mawlamyine organized by the Mon Women’s Network.
