SPDC Authorities Denied Registration to Mon Community Organization

 

Independent Mon News Agency

May 13, 2005

 

The military government recently denied a township Mon Literature and Culture Committee’s (MLCC) registration to be a legal organization, said by its central executive committee (CEC) members.

 

In Mon State of southern Burma, the Thanbyuzayat Township MLCC applied last October 2004 to the Township Peace and Development Council to register MLCC as an official organization working for the Mon community in the area especially for the promotion of Mon literature and culture.

 

The MLCC denied registration after the Township Peace and Development Council (TPDC) general secretary met with the CEC on 4th May, a MLCC’s CEC member said.

 

“TPDC general secretary U Pyi Aung Moe told us that we are not allowed as an organization that involves conducting activities, putting up a signboard or raising funds, etc… If we are moving forward to form an organization, it is likely we against the laws and orders and so that we can be put in jail for imprisonment for 5-7 years,” the CEC member said.

 

“After that, U Pyi Aung Moe said he was not frightening us, he just explained about the rule of law because he was afraid of we become as an illegal organization outside of the law,” the CEC member added.

 

The CEC members came back frustrated, and felt discouraged about their plans to put an MLCC signboard in Thanbyuzayat town, they said.

 

According to Mr. Nai Lyi Tamart of the Pa Nga village Literature and Culture Committee, his committee has also faced similar denial from SPDC authorities. "Only Mon Literature and Culture in Rangoon is allowed for registration,” he said. Although his committee is not official, it has involved in activities for community development, Mon literature training and other social work.

 

The Mon Literature and Culture Committee, the largest social organization in the Mon community, which has State level, Township level, Village-tract level and village management committees.   Normally, the committees are led by the senior Mon Buddhist monks and community leaders.

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