Chairman's national day speech censored

IMNA
February 16, 2006

The Township Peace and Development Council (TPDC) censored the speech of the chairman of the Paung Township Mon National Day Celebration Committee (MNDCC), sources close to MNDCC said.

A paragraph in the speech to make Mon people aware of their right to self determination, encourage Mon's to unite, to speak in Mon, use the Mon language, to abide by Mon tradition and culture and to serve the nation together was deleted by Burmese authorities, the sources said.

According to MNDCC, they were forced to hand over Nai Kyaw Soe's speech along with its translation in Burmese language before the Mon national day. The authorities cut the last paragraph where the chairman wanted make Mon people aware.

MNDCC was also barred from organizing a Mon drama performance on their celebration day. They were barred over a month ago. MNDCC in Paung had hired the Mon Htaw Naing drama group for the celebrations. MNDCC had followed the rules step-by-step and asked for permission from the TPDC and the district peace and development council. But both denied permission.

Mon people all over Burma were banned from staging performances on their national day. Local authorities said it was an order from Rangoon .

MNDCC had eagerly waited for the clearance for staging a drama.

Paung Township MNDCC was also prohibited from holding celebrations on the playground near the high school and had to move to another place.