Mon leaders discuss Myanmar situation with US senator

IMNA
May 21, 2006

Four Mon leaders in the United States met Senator Richard Lugar and more than 70 Mons settled in America demonstrated in front of the Burmese embassy in Washington DC on May 19.

Nai Anagha Mon and three other leaders met US senator, Richard Lugar and discussed the political situation in Myanmar , the conflicts in the country and the compulsions of the Mon people.

They marched to Washington DC and demonstrated on May 19, the 249th anniversary of the Mon Kingdom 's (Hongsawatoi) “fallen day” which is also the day of mourning, said a demonstrator, Nai Rot Rot. Others in Washington DC joined the demonstration.

The demonstrators included students and children who had travelled for 24 hours and spent about US $ 10,000 to join the agitation in Washington .

Tens of thousands of Mon civilians including children, women, students and monks were killed on the Hongsawatoi (Pegu) day in 1757 and most historical records, including Mon manuscripts and stone inscriptions were destroyed.

A statement by Mon organizations from Australia , Europe, Canada , and the US urged the SPDC to immediately stop genocide, ethnic cleansing, and all forms of human rights violations against all ethnic nationalities. They also demanded the immediate withdrawal of troops from Mon, Karen and other ethnic areas.

It demanded that the SPDC immediately initiate a genuine tripartite dialogue involving leaders of ethnic nationalities, elected representatives and the military regime as recommended by the United Nations.

The statement urge the United Nations Security Council to immediately take steps to stop the on going genocide and ethnic cleansing by the military dictatorship.

It also urged Mon people everywhere to join hands in the struggle for Mon freedom.