MUL Role & Activities in Mon Community
(October 2007)

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International Conference on Mon History

The first International Conference on Mon History under the name of Discovery of Ramannya Desa: History, Identity, Culture, Language and Performing Arts in Chulalongkorn University Bangkok Thailand from 10 to 13 October, and MUL has actively joined in the Conference.  Even before Conference, MUL leaders along with NMSP leaders, (Burma) National Reconciliation Program (NRP) and other Thai-Mon organizations have prepared for the occasion for over a year. 

President of Chulalongkorn University, Prof. Dr. Kunying Suchada Kiranandana gave an opening speech and opened the Conference.  Then General Director from Ministry of Culture, M. R. Chakrarot Chitrabongs also gave a key note speech on the background of Mon history and culture.

There are totally about 15 sessions of presentation about Mon history, identity, culture, language and education.  9 Sessions were presented in Thai language and 6 Sessions are presented in Thai language.  Some Mon scholars from Burma including Dr. Pan Hla joined in the Conference.  Dr. Pan Hla is a well respected scholar by foreign scholars, Thai and Burmese scholars. 
General presentations in the Sessions are related to the following issues. 

English Language Sessions:

  • New Archaeological Discoveries and Studies on Mon
  • (Mon) Identity and National Consciousness
  • Cross Regional Warfare: Conflict and Confrontation in Early Mon History
  • A Part of Mon History and Culture: Reinvestigating from Arts and Architecture
  • Mon Linguistics, Language Studies and Its Current Situation
  • Mon Studies Tracking from Overseas Documents
  • Mon Chronicles and Manuscripts Studies
  • Reinvestigating Ramanya Desa: Pre-Modern States and Cities in Lower Part of Burma (Symposium)

Thai Language Sessions:

  • Mon in the Service of Royal Court 1
  • Migration, Settlement and Cultural Assimilation in Thai-Mon History
  • Culture of Mon Living in Thailand
  • Biography and Philosophy of Ven. Uttama and History and Wengvivekaram Temple
  • Mon in the Service of Royal Court 2
  • Identity and National Consciousness

President of MUL, Nai Sunthorn Siripanngern involved as key speaker in an English Session on the Comparison of Mon Chronicles, Rajathatabuut and others and he also acted as Moderator in a Thai Session: Cultures of Mon Living in Thailand.  MUL General Secretary, Nai Kasauh Mon, presented about Struggle for the Survival of Mon Literature and Education in Monland in an English Session: Mon Linguistics, Language Studies and Its Current Situation. 

In the evening of October 12 and October 13, Thai-Mon and Mon performing groups performed Mon dances along with ‘Rajahtirat’ Drama by Silakarn University for 4 hours each day.  Hundreds of audiences came and watched the shows. 

 

2. Security Discussion

From October 26 to 28, AltASEAN, a regional NGOs for human rights and democracy, held a Security Literacy Training in order to support Burma’s ethnic and pro-democracy activists to realize on the concepts of Traditional Security and Non-Traditional Security.  Some experts on security from Australia National University facilitate the training, and explained about the concepts on Security – National Security and Human Security.  MUL General Security attended Training, in order to share the situation happened in Mon areas and how these impacts can affect the security of neighbouring countries. 

From discussion, non-traditional security from Burma that affects to the neighboring countries are discussed.  They are unregistered population movement, HIV/AIDS and other communicable diseases, human trafficking, drug trafficking, environment deterioration and this serial negative situation can impact more or less to human security of the regional countries.   Then, the participants are discussing to convince the international community including the regional countries including China and India, that the political instability in Burma can affect to their countries and it is a need to push SPDC onto negotiation table for national reconciliation of Burma.

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.