MUL Role & Activities in Mon Community
(May 2008)
1. Statement on the Cyclone Nargis by Mon community
May 18, 2008
The Nargis cyclone, the worst natural disaster in Burma, resulted in more than 100,000 of death or missing and hundreds of thousand of more people homeless.
Despite the death, suffering, and dying of hundreds of thousands of people, and the demands by the UN and international community to postpone the referendum so that focus can be made on urgent rescue and relief works, SPDC still went ahead with its sham referendum. Governments in other countries would declare days of national mourning for the victims and would postpone all other important events.
The cold-blooded and heartless military government in Burma disregards the death and the suffering of its people, and was completely overwhelmed with its sham referendum merely to secure its power and legalize its military rule. Even when the Indian meteorological department gave credible information about the cyclone 48 hours before the disaster, the military government was eager with its campaign on referendum and deliberately neglected the warning. As a result, hundreds of thousands of people have to face with the unnecessary and avoidable death. If disaster preventive measures and policies are in place like in many other countries, people could be evacuated in time and hundreds of thousands of lives could be saved. The military government's selfishness, cruelty and its thirst for power at the expense of the death and the suffering of hundreds of thousands of its own people is unspeakable.
After the death of hundreds of thousands of people, the military government has again failed to take effective remedial and relief measures for the victims. Though international humanitarian aid is on hand, eagerly waiting to help the victims of the cyclone, the military government deliberately hinders the process worrying that those international aid agencies and media could witness the referendum which was single-handedly held by the military regime on the 10th of May. Now, even though some limited aid is allowed to flow into the country, the international relief workers and disasters experts are still denied visa. It is outrageous to see that the military regime focuses only on its attempt to cling on power despite the death, the suffering and the dying of its citizens. We strongly condemn both its handling of the disaster and its attempt to cling on power by hook or by crook with its referendum.
At the same time, in order to save the innocent lives in Burma, we urgently urge the international community to take coercive intervention under the "responsibility to protect" principle unanimously endorsed by 150 heads of state and government at the 2005 UN World Summit. The Concept of "Responsibility to Protect" states that where there are overwhelming natural or environmental catastrophes, and the state concerned is either unwilling or unable to cope, or call for assistance, and significant loss of life is occurring or threatened, the use of coercive intervention and the application of military force can be justified. Therefore, we strongly believe that the inhumane act of Burmese military regime after the Cyclone Nagis disaster is a proper case for coercive intervention under the "responsibility to protect", R2P, principle, and it should be applied as a matter of urgency in order to save hundreds of thousands of lives in Burma.
The statement is jointly issued by
1. Australia Mon Association (AMA)
2. Euro Mon Community
3. Mon Canadian Society
4. Monland Restoration Council (USA)
5. Mon Women's Association of America
6. Mon Women's Organization of Canada
7. Mon National League for Consolidating and Aiding (Mae Sot, Thailand)
8. Mon Unity League (Thailand)
2. Hongsawatoi Fallen Day
The Mon organizations in Sangkhlaburi, including MUL has held for the 251st Year Remembrance of Hongsawatoi Fallen Day on 27th May. About 200 participants from different organizations based on Thailand-Burma border attended this ceremony. In the morning, accordingly to traditions, the participants made a merit to Buddhist monks and prayed for those who died in 1757’s genocide by the Burman King Alunphaya or U Aung Ze Ya.
After the merit-making ceremony, the HFD organizer continued the ceremony and at first, the Presidium of the Ceremony, Ven. Siha Rajal, expressed why the Mon people have to hold the ceremony of this remembrance. And, one organizer also explained about Genocide happened in 1757 and explained the historical facts on the Mon people how they lost the country and how they have to take refuge as refugees in Thailand, and why the strengths of the Mon people was weak in the past.
The participants stood up for 10 minutes in silence, and listened the expression by a Mon teacher about the Mon kings, queens, royal families, monks, ordinary citizens died because of genocide by the Burman king. Then the ceremony concluded with the speech given by the Presidium.
In evening about 7 :00 a.m., all participants went to “Buddha Gaya” Jadi (pagoda) and celebrate a praying ceremony for those who were killed during 1757’s genocide.
3. Participation in Cyclone Nargis Relief Program
On May 15, the Mon communities in Thailand-Burma border and in Mon State have held the praying ceremony for the May 2’s Cyclone Nargis Victims. In the praying ceremony, the Mon community made merit to the monks in mid-day and then the organizers of the ceremony explained about the tragedies of the Cyclone victims.
In the ceremony held in Thailand-Burma border, MUL General Secretary has to explain about Cyclone Nargis to the participants. In the explanation:
- Burma’s weather failed in warning system to the people and could not estimate the effects of cyclone. That pushes death toll up over 100, 000 people.
- Delay of relief efforts and corpse collection made more negative impacts to the remaining refugees in the area, as thousands of people faced food-shortage problem, lack of drinking water, basic medicines and shelters.
- It is quite regrettable when hearing that the military regime just allowed aids, but not relief workers. The regime diverted foreign aids and keeps them in their stores and then distributed their aids kept in stores for years. The victims said they can not eat the foods distributed by the regime authorities.
- The Mon people should involve in helping the Nargis victims accordingly to Community to Community Direct Assistance program.
After praying ceremony, the Mon community that comprised of many organizations have formed up Cyclone Nargis Emergency Relief (CNER) program by Mon community and it is formed with 2 Teams. The first Team will base on Thailand-Burma border and 2nd Team will be based inside Mon State. The first Team has responsibility of seeking assistance from outside Mon communities and donor agencies and the Team inside will implement the program.
Note: MUL stands for networking the Mon Civil Society Organizations in building their capacities and coordinate with them for all activities benefit to the Mon people and reach ultimate goal of restoring Monland.