Nai Nonlar: A Tribute to the Late NMSP President
August 8, 2008
New Mon State Party members, close relatives, friends and supporters of the late NMSP President Nai Nonlar held a ceremony to mark the nineteenth anniversary of his passing at Three Pagodas Pass, Sangklaburi, and Hnee Padaw village.
The Mon freedom fighter died of heart failure while giving a speech to pro-democracy students and supporters at Three Pagodas Pass on the first anniversary of the 8-8-88 general uprising in Burma.
Ms. Thidar, the daughter of Nai Nonlar recalled, "Ajar Sued (Dr. Sued Gajaseni, the President of Thai Ramarn Association) urged him to come down to Bangkok for a medical check-up but he was more concerned for the party members and decided to stay with them instead of going to Bangkok.”
An 8888 generation Mon student present when he died said the moment is still etched in his mind. "Ajar Nonlar was so pleased to give the speech to students who had joined the democracy movement but after a few minutes he collapsed. We were shocked and didn't know what to do.”
Today’s commemorative ceremony at Three Pagodas Pass was held at Waengka Mon village, and had been organized by family members of the late NMSP leader. About 300 people, including Colonel Layeah Gakowo, attended the service, despite heavy rain. The Sanghklaburi service was also well attended, with NMSP Secretary General Nai Hongsar seated beside many prominent Mon leaders currently living in Thailand.
"He was one of the most respected persons I have ever met," said Nai Aye Mon, a Central Committee member of the NMSP. "He was an integral part of our history, he was a tenacious fighter for freedom and touched us deeply," he added.
Nai Nonlar (aka) Nai Seiknoh was a native of Hnee Padaw village near Than Byu Zayat in Mudon Township and joined the Mon People's Front at its founding. He was a member of the Central Committee of the MPF at the time it surrendered to U Nu's parliamentary government in 1958 in exchange for a promise of democratic reform. When General Ne Win seized power in 1962, Nai Nonlar was imprisoned together with MPF leader Nai Aung Tun and seven other prominent Mon political activists. When he was released in 1974, he quickly rejoined the armed resistance of the Mon people, by then known as the NMSP.
Nai Nonlar played a major role in Mon national politics for over forty years and was well respected by Mon people both in Burma and Thailand. During this time he served the NMSP as Secretary General and was later elected President when the NMSP split into two factions in 1981. When the two factions were reunited in 1987, he served as Vice President, working tirelessly until he passed away on the 1st Anniversary of 8888 General Uprising in 1989.
A memorial statue was built at his native village near Thanbyu Zayat in Mon State.
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Ms. Thidar, the daughter of Nai Nonlar recalled, "Ajar Sued (Dr. Sued Gajaseni, the President of Thai Ramarn Association) urged him to come down to Bangkok for a medical check-up but he was more concerned for the party members and decided to stay with them instead of going to Bangkok.”
An 8888 generation Mon student present when he died said the moment is still etched in his mind. "Ajar Nonlar was so pleased to give the speech to students who had joined the democracy movement but after a few minutes he collapsed. We were shocked and didn't know what to do.”
Today’s commemorative ceremony at Three Pagodas Pass was held at Waengka Mon village, and had been organized by family members of the late NMSP leader. About 300 people, including Colonel Layeah Gakowo, attended the service, despite heavy rain. The Sanghklaburi service was also well attended, with NMSP Secretary General Nai Hongsar seated beside many prominent Mon leaders currently living in Thailand.
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Nai Nonlar (aka) Nai Seiknoh was a native of Hnee Padaw village near Than Byu Zayat in Mudon Township and joined the Mon People's Front at its founding. He was a member of the Central Committee of the MPF at the time it surrendered to U Nu's parliamentary government in 1958 in exchange for a promise of democratic reform. When General Ne Win seized power in 1962, Nai Nonlar was imprisoned together with MPF leader Nai Aung Tun and seven other prominent Mon political activists. When he was released in 1974, he quickly rejoined the armed resistance of the Mon people, by then known as the NMSP.
Nai Nonlar played a major role in Mon national politics for over forty years and was well respected by Mon people both in Burma and Thailand. During this time he served the NMSP as Secretary General and was later elected President when the NMSP split into two factions in 1981. When the two factions were reunited in 1987, he served as Vice President, working tirelessly until he passed away on the 1st Anniversary of 8888 General Uprising in 1989.
A memorial statue was built at his native village near Thanbyu Zayat in Mon State.
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