Formation, Policy and Mandate of
Mon Unity League adopted
In It’s 5th Conference

 

Background of 5th Conference

MUL normally holds it’s Conference in every 3 years in order to review it’s aim and objectives and adopts work plans.  The last MUL’s 4th Conference or International Conference was held in 2001.  In 2002, due to split in New Mon State Party (about 60 soldiers split away from Mon National Libration Army) and founding of Hongsawatoi Restoration Party (HRP), the opinion of general Mon people was divided while some were supporting NMSP and while (some) supported HRP.  Although MUL set up a negotiation commission between these two armed parties, the commission works were not so welcome. 

The political split also affects to MUL formation and some MUL members dragged it to side on political party.  Since then, it could not hold it’s 5th Conference.  It’s activities have been weak for some years.  In 2005 and 2006, the situation became stable, the fighting between Mon armed groups have ceased.  Therefore, many MUL members are re-active to hold the 5th Conference with a main objective to have reform of MUL. 

On 17th and 18th of February, MUL held it’s two days Conference successfully.  In Conference, it can also adopt clear vision and mission statement where it will have to move along with the practical aim and objectives that may last for 3 years.  The participants re-elected it’s “Executive Management Board” as a highest decision making body with the supports of Advisory and Auditing Boards plus Policy Advisors. 

Vision:
Civil Society organizations are the foundation of Mon nation-building. People’s capacity is the strength of civil society.

Mission Statement
MUL stands as ‘Civil Society Forum’ for the various Mon organizations to support their networks, coordination and movement for the self-determination and nation-building of the Mon people.

Aim:
Encourage all walks of Mon people involve in civil society organizations and in nation-building along with other ethnic nationalities in Burma.

 

Objectives:

  • To involve in the political advocacy and campaign for the rights to self-determination of Mon people in Burma
  • To have access to all Mon organizations in Thailand and Thailand-Burma border areas and create network among them in order to have their strengths in supports freedom of Mon people
  • To support social mobilization of the Mon people  in order to build up “Self-reliance” on their own and from then on to strengthen their communities in Burma
  • To support for the capacity building to the Mon civil society organizations both in Thailand and Burma to involve in building the grass-root based democracy in Burma

 

Structure of MUL (from 5th Conference)

Advisory Board                                                                    Auditing Board
  • Nai Phi San Palardsin                                         1.  Nai Mon Jean
  • Nai Damrong Pongbankadee
  • Nai Khoon Leal
  • Nai Lawi Mon
  • Nai Wongsa

 


Policy Advisors

  • Nai Sumit Punakari (Thailand)
  • Nai Banya Hongsa (Australia)
  • Nai Cham Toik (Canada)

                                   
 
Executive Management Board

  • Nai Sunthorn Siripanngern (President)
  • Mi (Ms.) Monhtaw Pongbankadee (Vice President)
  • Nai Kasauh Mon (General Secretary)
  • Nai Ong Bunjan (PR Officer)
  • Nai Lyi Rot (Treasurer)


Management and Operation Board

  • Director
  • General Manager
  •  Administrator
  • Coordinator (MUL Information and Research)
  • Coordinator (MUL Political Advocacy & Campaign)
  • Coordinator (MUL Civil Society Network)

 

 

Standing Policies from 5th Conference of MUL

  • Currently besides the former Mon (from Burma) and Thai-Mon organizations, there are many new Mon community based organizations and Mon labour organizations are formed in order to participate in ‘national identity’ movement ( Mon National Day, religious ceremonies and others), which provide social services to the communities (education, development and others) and protect themselves (labour protection, self-reliance programs) and others.  These organizations are operating so independently and they are also referred as “civil society” organizations in Thailand-Burma and in Thailand’s Mon migrant workers’ communities.  Since they are not all political motivated organizations, it is impossible to organize all of them to be members of MUL – which stands as “umbrella organization” since 1995, but it has been weak after NMSP resigned in 1998 after an internal argument on “openness”.  Currently, there are only two main organizations – Mon Youth Community (Bangkok ), a Thai Mon organization and the border based human rights organization – Human Rights Foundation of Monland (HURFOM) , have remained as a CORE in MUL.  Therefore, MUL will stands as a CORE ORGANIZATION to build ‘networks’ with these civil society organizations and extends these networks into Monland in order to build up ‘grass-root movement’ for the rights to self-determination of Mon people.  It also abandons the policy of ‘centralized membership based MUL formation’ and extends networking with these Mon civil society.  It also strongly believes that these civil society organizations are ‘FOUNDATION OF MONLAND’. 

  • Since MUL stands and creates networks with civil society or people organizations, it will also reflects the  political opinions, ideas in national movement, justice in Mon communities, human rights and humanitarian issues, social problems from the people.  Additionally, it will also reflects the situation of relations between the Mon People and Mon Armed Groups.  MUL will strongly stands on the side of the people, when they are disturbed and violated by the armed groups.

  • MUL has involved in various political advocacy and campaign internationally for the cases of Mon people on their movement for the rights to self-determination, human rights violations, activities on maintenance of literature and culture.  For several years, MUL stands as “speaking body” to the International Community and Media.  In this 5th Conference, the participants also reviewed whether MUL will continuously stand on this role.  Many suggested that MUL should keep this role because the International Community or Media more likely to believe from the border based source on the situation what are happening in Monland.  Therefore, MUL via its International Representatives will continuously work with “Policy Advocacy and Campaign” for the rights of the Mon people in Monland.

  • Additionally, while MUL is planning to build up ‘networking’ among the Civil Society organizations in Malaysia, Thailand, Thailand-Burma and (may be in other Asia country), it will also fulfill the capacities needed by these organizations.  The capacity-building processes will be initiated one organization by organization or conducted with the leaders of these organizations.  Therefore, MUL will conduct effective ‘Civil Society Networking’ in all of these areas (Thailand-Burma border, Thailand and Malaysia) in order to create self-reliance for Mon political movement.  Then, to support the civil society movement in Monland to maintain the movement for the survival of Mon literature, culture, education, community activities which are mostly considered as ‘political force of Mon people’.

MUL Urgent Implementation

  • Finding an Office

In order to effectively implement the above-mentioned activities, MUL is in urgent need to open its office in Bangkok.  There are two issues in seeking office.  First idea is to rent an office and second idea is to purchase a house and use it office permanently.  But MUL has limited financial resources to purchase an office.

  • Registration of MUL

MUL Core members want to implement their programs safely in Thailand, without troubles created by Thai authorities.  The name of MUL is standing as ‘political name’, and it is impossible to register with this name.  But anyhow, MUL can find a foundation name relating to Mon culture or literature or others in Thai language and can apply a registration in the Interior Ministry of Royal Thai government.

  • Employment of Core Staff

MUL needs to employ a Director (to lead the implementation team), a General Manager (to hold work from the Director), an Administration (also can be accountant) and 3 Program Coordinators. 

  • Monland Update (E-Publication) and Web-site

In order to fully publicize what are happening in Monland and what are MUL activities, it needs to have it’s own Web-site and it staff (The Program Coordinator of MUL Information and Research) needs to publicize “Monland Update” by monthly and load up inWeb-site.