Debate
on National Convention
WHAT
SHOULD THEY DO?
(By
Lawi Weng)
Some
Mon leaders are proud of the idea that the cease-fire has entitled the Mon
political party to participate in the national convention.
"Because
of the ceasefire, we can maintain our land," stated a New Mon State
Party leader. Yes, because of playing politics for three years, 7,889
acres of land were confiscated from the local Mon people by the Burmese
troops. Was this a consequence of the cease-fire?
Regarding
Mon politics today, it makes me think of a village headman from my
hometown. He became the leader because he was well educated, but to keep
the peace he had to feed and bribe the Burmese troops at every turn. When
his term was up, he sold three gardens to them.
When
the cease-fire ends should the Mon give up their land? Today the Mon
live in a military zone. During the term of the cease-fire, more than 30
military camps were moved into Monland. Some people were forced from their
land and became internally displaced persons. Even those who still
have land are not allowed to go freely about their farms because the Burma
Army controls the area. Thousands of IDP have escaped into the Mon
controlled areas or have fled across the borders.
Is
the New Mon State Party concerned to see thousands of IDP fleeing into
their controlled areas? The Mon people will slowly disappear day by day if
Mon politics becomes too diseased, like a person afflicted with polio,
they must take a firm position and challenge the regime. Many Mon have
escaped to
Thailand
seeking jobs for survival after their land was robbed, what laws will
there be to protect the people from criminal behavior in
Burma in the future.
"Land
is our mother. We are born and brought up in her lap, and to her we must
return as we die. It is the living link between our ancestors and
us", said a Maori indigenous people from New
Zealand
. Land is important for people, to have peace the Mon have to hand over
their land to the Burmese troops, but the Mon should not be forced into
this kind of situation, reduced to paupers in their own land, deceived
into giving up their rights.
Do
the overseas
Mons think they can come back to Monland after the national convention?
What’s in store for the Mon, what is the advantage of this convention?
The national convention is the first step toward a political solution
after an eight-year ceasefire agreement. The Mon people will be far from
their hometown when the national convention begins, and the regime can
play any trick up their sleeve to appease those who are susceptible to
deception. The regime's national convention is like a train—which moves
from station to station picking up passengers and the Mon are like a dog
barking at the moving train, like the Mon political party, they will not
be heard unless there is a firm consensus among the Mon to achieve their
rights.
Kao
Wao asked some of the Mon diasporas whether or not they agree with the Mon
attending the convention? Most disagree, but the NMSP will not cancel
their invitation to the national convention because they have already
accepted Khin Nyunt's invitation and they are worried the ceasefire will
be broken and fighting will continue.
The
Mon should attend the national convention to seek a political
solution and not be pushed into whatever the regimes wants. The convention
should be an intensive debate to gain recognition and their basic rights,
so the Mon can study and teach in their own language and live freely on
their land. These are legitimate concerns among all Mon people today who
want to return to their homeland.
