Independent Mon News Agency (IMNA)

Analysis on the Draft Mon State Constitution

A MAN, A STATE, AND A CONSTITUTION

By Banya Hong Sar, June 3, 2003

A draft constitution of federal Mon State has completed on the second week of May after Two days entirely worked by the committee in Thai-Burma Border area.

A six members of the committee let by Nai Hong Sa, General Secretary of New Mon State Party (NMSP) has finalized the second draft federal Mon State Constitution over two days sitting. Among nine members of the committee, only six of them could sit for writing the draft which representatives from inside Mon State, Burma could not attend for security reason. However, the sitting committee agreed to hand out the draft paper to particular member for reviews and further input for their principles.

“Our common position is to abolish a dictatorship rule in Burma” said by Nai Hong Sa, Chairman of the committee. “We must firmly stand for ‘equal rights’ to every ethnic people in Mon State as well Burma” he added.

A principle of Federal Mon State has implemented at the “Mon National Seminar” in 2000. The Statement issued by the seminar said “it is considerable to build a federal union of Burma” after perceiving current political situation of the country.

An initiative of drafting State constitution for every State in Burma is an easy task. United Nationalities League for Democracy (UNLD) and its political ally liberated areas based ethnic political parties have campaigned for many grounds to reach this common position. After Burma failed to build a genuine federalism in Burma in 1948, non-Burman leaders did the bury their mandate to form a federation of Burma for halt century.

A drafting process of “Federal Mon State” constitution not an easy task either. As the Mon political community has lack of resources and experties in the field they have struggled for over two years to complete the draft. Member of Mon Unity League (MUL) led by Nai Sunthorn Sripanngern, General Secretary of the organization has worked for over two years to provide assistance for the process.

“It is an agreement between the government and civilians”, Nai Sunthorn once said in a meeting. He has observed twice to Germany for in study tour with other leaders from Burma in the last two years.

A number of statements issued by both the New Mon State Party and Mon National Democratic Front (MNDF) in recent years mentioned that “federalism” is the best way to solve Burmese political crisis for many decades. The MNDF, a leading Mon nationalist political party in Burma, led by Nai Tun Thein won five seats in general elections in 1990.

The Mon community, especially at home have lack of understanding the concept of federalism and the rights of each State in the union. After five decades fighting for independence State, the New Mon State party is now sound to compromise with the Rangoon government. Hence, the party and its armed force, Mon National Liberation Army reached cease-fire agreement to the Burmese military government in 1995. However, the road to federation of Burma is not harmony as many ethnic leaders have expected for the talk. After sever years of “gentleman agreements” the party has faced unexpected split away faction and finally killed one senior leader in door.

The Mon Nationalist leaders from every organization, both home and abroad have taught for “equality”.

“It is our interest to obtain ‘equality’ or equal rights to everyone who lives in Mon State“, Mr. Nai Hong Sa said.

The Mon nationalist movement for “equality” is now seen to be engaged with other nationalities in the country. As the leaders of the Mon State have implemented for “federalism” in Burma, a task is so much demanding for a dear interpretation of the constitution itself.

When the committee circulates the draft paper to the community both home and abroad, it will give every Mon people to have a “say” in the paper before finalizing in coming national seminar. Many Mon activists may bring for a better future to challenge the principle of federalism in Burma.

As Burma, including Mon State is approaching to be a democratic institution and a freedom society in the 21^st century, the first ever constitution of federal Mon State may lay a platform equality and democracy.

Overall, the principle of “ho one above the law” is a bottom line for the whole paper. As long as the constitution is well defined by and ordinary people, the paper is not working for its prime purpose.