The 14th Mon Youth Day celebration, which falls on December 28th, will be held in Banan Bon Village, located in the Ye Chaung Pya area, which is under the control of the New Mon State Party (NMSP).
According to sources close to the Mon Youth Forum (MYF), the group leading the preparations, held a meeting in Mawlamyine earlier this week, and decided to host this year’s event in Banan Bon Village, within NMSP-controlled territory.
Since the military takeover, large-scale outdoor Mon Youth Day celebrations had been suspended. Although holding this year’s 14th Mon Youth Day in NMSP territory marks a return to tradition, some youth say it will still not allow for genuine freedom of expression.
A Mon youth commented, “The purpose of Mon Youth Day is to encourage youth participation in politics, strengthen national spirit, and motivate young people to serve in Mon national education, the economy, and even the Mon armed forces. Under the previous civilian government during the democratic transition period, we could speak freely at the event. But now, we won’t be able to openly deliver those messages.”
Independent Mon News Agency reached out to MYF leaders for details on how the event will be organized but no response came before going to publication.
Mon Youth Day has been organized annually on December 28th by the Mon Youth Forum to promote unity and strengthen the sense of national identity amongst Mon youth.
Before the military coup, Mon Youth Day was celebrated on a large scale, with youth and political leaders, along with thousands of young people from various regions participating in speeches, competitions, and entertainment programs.
After the coup, Mon Youth Day events have continued both inside the country, abroad, as well as being held either indoors or online.
Mon Youth Day commemorates the first Mon youth gathering, held on December 28th, 1946, in Mawlamyine. It was officially designated as “Mon Youth Day” during the 3rd Mon Youth Exchange Program held in April 2012 in Wel Paung Village, an NMSP-controlled area.
