Teaching Mon Language is illegal in

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Subject: Teaching Mon Language is illegal in Burma because of "Burmanization policy"

Mon Schools were ordered to Close Down


(October, 1999)
    On October 16,1999, when a Mon national school was operating and 
providing education to Mon children in a building in a Mon monastery compound 
of Kwan-tar village, Mudon Township of Mon State, the SPDC village 
authorities cam and order it to close down. The order actually came from 
Military Intelligent No. 5 and the village PDC chairman, Nai Sein Aung, and 
Secretary, Nai Thar Aung, had to take responsibility to close the school 
down. On the next day, on October 17, the village headmen called a meeting 
with all students' parents and explained that the higher authorities (but did 
not describe details about the order from MI No. 5 unit) have ordered them to 
close down the school because was illegal institution and the teaching of Mon 
language was also illegal. After the school was close, about 100 children 
lost access to education. 
    
    As the authorities including MI No. 5 believe, the operating of Mon 
national school is the creation of the competitive education against 
government education and accuse that more student from the government have 
moved from government school to that Mon school. During MI. 5 unit gave 
order, there was less number of students in government school than in the Mon 
school.

    In the meeting, the village PDC authorities also warned the students' 
parents that they must not send their children to Mon school and if they did 
in the future, both parents and student must be taken action or arrested for 
their illegal activities. Then, they also forced the parents to sign a 
promising letter to give a promise that they would not send their children to 
Mon school again. On he similar day, the village militia troops waited and 
rounded the Mon school in halting the teachers and children to not operate 
the school. Until the end of October, militia forces rounded up the school 
and it was totally closed down by the authorities. 
    
    Later, on October 28, the Mudon Township PDC authorities also close down 
another school. The Township Secretary, U Myint Soe, went Set-thawe village, 
about 30 miles in southern part of Mudon Town and ordered through village 
headmen to close down Mon school immediately which was operating in the 
village. On the next day, the village chairman asked the school headmistress 
to meet him and asked to close down the school immediately He also threatened 
the headmistress that she refused to close down the school, she must be 
arrested and detained according to the laws as she leading illegal 
activities. 
    
    In very previous year, SPDC always tried to close down many Mon national 
schools, which were operating in rural areas of Mon State. The Mon community 
has encouraged these schools and also sends their children to learn Mon 
language in the schools. The NMSP education committee or the community itself 
tried to get qualified Mon teachers and let them teach in these schools.

    Since 1995, after NMSP-SLORC ceasefire, the Mon community believed they 
could operate the Mon school and provide Mon education independently and 
since then has established many Mon schools. NMSP also officially asked the 
military government to allow the teaching of Mon language in government 
schools. However, after the local Mon communities actually establish the Mon 
schools and operate the Mon education system in there, the government has 
stopped the Mon education.

    The establishment of Mon national schools and the initiative on Mon 
education system were resulted from the BSPP government's assimilation policy 
that acted against the ethnic nationalities and protracted civil war in 
Burma. After Gen. Ne Win seized power in 1962, the Rangoon government that 
adopted "Burmanization Policy" and also closed down many Mon schools 
established during the parliamentary era from 1948 until 1962. More 
restriction against the speaking and teaching of Mon language was introduced 
in the whole Mon area.   This made the civil war to be intensified and NMSP 
also received more support from the Mon people. However, many Mon schools in 
the Mon areas are totally closed. 

    Mon National Liberation Army (MNLA) occupied more areas and so NMSP also 
adopted administration in many parts of Mon areas. Accompanying with NMSP 
administration, its Education Department also re-established many Mon 
national schools in many rural Mon villages, with cooperation from the local 
community. Later the establishment of Mon national schools gained momentum 
and, more and more schools were established.  Until 195, there were about 250 
Mon national schools were established in Mon areas and most Mon communities 
expected they would have more independent situation to run their schools 
after the ceasefire. In 1999, there are about 300 Mon schools in the whole 
Mon areas.

    However, the government did not allow the teaching of Mon language as a 
subject in government in Mon areas in 1996. Then the Mon communities in 
government control areas also established many Mon schools due to the order 
came from Mon State LORC that they could establish their own schools if they 
have desires. After Mon schools were established, many students from 
government schools moved to Mon schools. Then, the government authorities 
made a new operation to close down the Mon schools in 1988. The schools were 
closed just for a while, but the community tried to re-open again. However, 
the operating of Mon national schools and Mon education system have regularly 
disturbed by the government authorities including MI No. 5 in Mon State. 


>From The Mon Forum, (Issue No. 11/99, November 30, 1999)