Independent Mon News Agency (IMNA)

October 10, 2003

Printing of books in Mon Language are totally barred

The SPDC’s censorship board still bar the printing of Mon books even the contents are translation from magazines produced in Burmese language said by Mon monk community in Rangoon.

“The articles are not related to the politics, we try to put the contents with which the Burmese language produced articles in previous magazines and journals, but the censorship board still prohibites”, said by a Mon monk in Bahan Township, Rangoon.

The Mon monks plan to produce monthly periodic magazines with the collective articles from Burmese magazines and journals but it is still barred by Censorship Board in Rangoon.

The only Mon magazines about the well known Mon monks, who are respected by the regime, is permitted to produce only once a year or one in two years, said by a Mon monk from Moulmein, the capital of Mon State, who has experience applying permission to print books.

During the BSPP (Burmese Socialist Programme Party – 1962 to 1988) era, the Mon books which contained the translations of the articles from Burmese language were permitted to produce. It is now a serious oppression during the SPDC said by the source.

According to a monk from Rangoon, last 3 years ago, they had to apply for 6 months to get permission to print a book or magazine. Now, they could not get any permission but put under the name of New Mon State Party’s Public Relations Department and have produced the books and magazines.

Even though the printing of books in Mon language are totally barred by the SPDC, the Mon communities, Mon patriots and Mon monks try to produce the books in Mon language. However, the rate of book production has been gradually reduced.