Draft Of Intha Language Approved Under Regime
By Network Media Group
Monday, December 12, 2022
Some of the Intha nationalities have criticised the Intha Literature and Cultural Association (ILCA) for collaborating with the military regime to approve a draft of the group’s written language. They also said the draft written in Burmese script, which has been in the works since 2017, doesn’t represent all the Intha groups living around Inle Lake in Nyaung Shwe Township in northern Shan State.
“Many youth didn’t attend the meeting because they fear they’ll be accused of collaborating with the military regime. I think the Intha National Development Party (INDP) is angry because they lost the last elections and that’s why they organised this meeting. If they want to form a government, they must try harder than the previous one,” a youth told NMG on condition of anonymity.
Some youths did, however, join the meeting held in Nyaung Shwe town on 6 December, which was attended by 50 representatives that included local regime leaders, Intha parties and civil society groups. All agreed to the draft except representatives from Mong Thouk and Thalae Oo, who asked that any decisions about it be deferred until another meeting. Some of the villages south of the lake were not even invited to participate.
A 40-year-old political activist said they have been trying to finish this process for a long time: “We do not need representatives from the military regime to approve our Intha language. We can do it ourselves…The Intha people will lose face because this meeting was held under the rule of the military regime.”
Once the written language has been finalised, which has been delayed by the pandemic and the coup, it will be included in the curriculum of the schools under the regime.
Intha youth organisations have pointed out that the organisers failed to invite people from across Inle Lake, so the decisions made at the meeting aren’t representative of the whole community. Others pointed out that Intha accents differ from village to village, poising further challenges.
Tat Tun, chair of ILCA, Hla Tun, secretary of ILCDA, Kyaw Zaw, chair of Intha Social Volunteer Association, Dr Nyo Nyo Myint, head professor of the Department of Burmese Literature at Taunggyi University and government officials were present at the meeting.
Intha sources told the NMG that the two major parties – the INDP and the Intha National League Party – don’t represent the whole people and are more concerned about their own interests.
