Tsunami hit Mon workers to celebrate Mon National Day

Nai Chan Mon, IMNA
January 27, 2006

Mon migrant workers in Tsunami hit southern Thailand , decided at a meeting today to celebrate Mon National Day on February 13 for the first time.

Mon migrant workers together with migrant worker support groups held a meeting to celebrate Burma 's Union Day and Mon National Day at Phang Nga near Phuket.

“We decided to celebrate. We chose three places for the sake of security of the workers. They (Mon workers) are eager to celebrate,” said a monk helping Mon migrants in Tsunami affected areas.

“It is the first time that Mon migrant workers in the area will be celebrating the Mon National Day,” said the monk who is organizing the celebration.

The monk and director Ko Htoo Chit of a workers support group, the Grassroots Human Rights Education, convened the meeting, to discuss celebration of Burma's Union Day together with Mon National Day.

Since it is the first time for Mon migrant workers of the area, they would not be able to perform a cultural show, said the monk.

In Phang Nga area, the majority of workers are Mon nationalities from Burma and most of them were affected by Tsunami an over a year ago.

Only after the Tusnami, with the help of NGOs, Mon workers could start some activities. Fifteen Mon migrants were ordained to monk hood with the help of NGOs on January 12. Mon migrants also offered donation to monks for their colleagues who died in Tsunami on December 26, 2004.