Mon Revolution Day Commemorated in Mudon Township—Without Original Slogan
Upon govt orders, the organizing committee removed the phrase “From Brave Resistance to Freedom” from the event.
By NETWORK MEDIA GROUP (NMG)
Monday, August 27, 2018
Mon people from Karen and Mon states marked the 71st Mon Revolution Day in Mon State’s Mudon Township on Saturday.
The event is held annually on the full moon day in the month of Wakhaung at the Win Sein forest monastery.
“We pay respect to Mon leaders and other Mon revolutionary men who sacrificed their lives for the freedom of the Mon people,” Min Zarni Oo, a leader of the commemoration’s organizing committee, told NMG. “We have to continue struggling for our freedom and let the younger generation understand the revolution.”
NMG reported on Friday that the Mon State government had demanded that the organizing committee remove the phrase “From Brave Resistance to Freedom” from posters and banners made for the event. The organizing committee complied.
Deputy Speaker of the Mon State parliament Dr. Aung Naing Oo said that the government disapproval came from a perception that the day is only about commemorating armed struggle.
“Revolution is not only related to armed struggle. Government officers see this commemoration as related to armed struggle because we are doing this commemoration for the people who participated in armed struggles,” he explained. “Actually, we want our freedom under the law. We want justice. What we want are struggles carried out in line with laws.”
Mon Revolution Day is also commemorated in the headquarters of the New Mon State Party (NMSP) and in the areas under their control.
According to the NMSP, the Burma Army prohibited them from wearing military uniforms and displaying military equipment in their parade on Mon Revolution Day last year. However, representatives said that the Tatmadaw did not make the same demands this year.
The Mon people demanded self-determination soon after Burma gained independence in 1948. When they did not receive it, they began the Mon armed revolution on the full moon day in the month of Wakhaung, which is commemorated through the paying of respects to Mon martyrs every year on this same day.
