The township-wide Mon National Day ceremony in Ye Phyu Township, Tanintharyi Region, will be held depending on the local security situation, according to the organizing committee and local residents.
The ceremony is planned to take place in Ye Phyu Village, where junta troops are still present. Due to the presence of these troops, local residents are concerned that further armed clashes may occur.
Since the military coup, the Ye Phyu Township–wide Mon National Day ceremony has been held only in a limited format each year. This year as well, due to ongoing fighting in the area, the event will be held without entertainment programs, according to a member of the organizing committee.
“We had planned from the beginning to hold Mon National Day. Even if it goes ahead, it will be on a very small scale. However, fighting broke out in that area the other day, so we had to cancel the meeting to prepare for the ceremony. Whether we can hold it or not will depend on how the situation develops,” the official said.
On the morning of January 22, a junta force of more than 100 troops was stationed at the Ye Phyu Village monastery. In the afternoon, clashes broke out with resistance forces, forcing residents from three villages to flee and seek shelter.
Due to these circumstances, the 79th Mon National Day in Ye Phyu will include only activities such as installing ground posters and holding a flag-raising ceremony, according to a local resident.
“There will be no stage programs, no competitions, and no military demonstrations. There will only be ground posters set up at the school and a flag-raising ceremony. It will be the same as last year,” a Ye Phyu local resident said.
This year’s central-level 79th Mon National Day ceremony will be held in Zinkyaik Village, Paung Township, and is expected to include singing and dancing competitions as well as entertainment programs.
In areas where Mon people live—including Yangon, Bago, Tanintharyi Region, and Kayin State—Mon National Day ceremonies have been held depending on security conditions since the military coup, due to ongoing armed conflicts.
Meanwhile, in various townships across Mon State, the 79th Mon National Day is expected to be celebrated in a lively and festive manner with entertainment programs. Mon communities in Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, and Thailand also typically celebrate the day vibrantly during their holidays.
