Fort Wayne -- Mon activists are sending letters to politicians, as they are concerned that a new United States policy will favor the Burmese military regime.

Fort Wayne, Indiana-based Monland Restoration Council (MRC-USA) sent a letter to Senator Jim Webb, Chairman of the East Asia and Pacific Affairs Subcommittee and the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations since the new US policy has captured the attention of Mons worldwide.

In its letter, MRC recommended that US sanctions against Burma be upheld while changes and adjustments be made in US foreign policy towards Burma.  While the US should continue to engage with the SPDC and its main ally, China, the engagement should not favor the military regime.  It should reach out to opposition parties and ethnic nationalities to help strengthen unity in Burma.

MRC Chairwoman Dr. Jarai Mon said, “The United States’ commitment to pushing for the release of Aung San Suu Kyi and all political prisoners is a step in the right direction towards helping bring peace and democracy to Burma. But the engagement should include democratic forces as well.”

The leader of Mon Affairs Union (MAU), Mr Sunthorn Sripanngern also submitted a comment letter on September 30th, 2009, at a hearing to review the new U.S. policy toward Burma. The letter suggested a way to facilitate the efforts of ethnic nationalities, who believe that building a strong foundation for solving Burma’s political problems, will lead to a unified, peaceful, prosperous, and democratic country.

The Shift in US policy was first announced by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in February. It is the most significant modification of US policy toward Burma in decades.

 The Monland Restoration Council (MRC), the biggest Mon community in exile, was founded in 1993, by Mon refugees who resettled in the United States after the 1988 uprising for democracy in Burma.