Respecting Ceremony to Mon Leader Nai Aung Htun was Not Smooth

 

Independent Mon News Agency


May 3, 2005


After a senior Mon leader, Nai Tun Thein (the Chairman of Mon National Democratic Front - MNDF), was not allowed to give speech in the remembrance and respecting ceremony of Mon leader Nai Aung Htun, some participants did not satisfy, said Mr. Nai Lyi Mon, who attended the ceremony. 

The respecting ceremony to Mon leader Nai Aung Htun, the Chairman of Mon People Front (1954-1962), was held on April 29 in his native village, Pa-Nga, south of Thanbyuzayat Town, Mon State, by singing a Mon song ‘Honoring the Leaders’ and dancing traditional Mon dances. 

Nai Lyi Mon said: “every year, we hear the speech of Nai Tun Thein and he explains the current political situation.  But this year we did not hear anything”.

Respecting ceremony to Nai Aung Htun, a minister of U Nu’s parliamentary elected government (1959-1962), has been celebrated every year.  Last year, the celebrating committee also contacted to SPDC’s Military Intelligent Unit and they allowed Nai Tun Thein to give speech to participants explaining the political situation in past and current times.  But this year, as the committee has to engage the local army commanders, he is not allowed to give speech, said a Mon literature and culture activist, Nai Banya Ga-jeore.

All executive committee members of MNDF, 107 former members of Mon People Front and 200 participants attended this ceremony.

Nai Tin Aung, a son of Nai Aung Htun, also expressed thankfulness to the participants as, “I feel so glad to see more people from different organizations – MNDF leaders and former comrades of MPF attending this ceremony.   I am so honoring and thank to Nai Thein Maung attending even his health is not good because of stoke”.

This was 9th Anniversary of Respecting Ceremony to Nai Aung Htun.   Nai Tun Aung also briefed the biography of Nai Aung Htun in the ceremony.   He said that his father was Chairman of MPF, served as a Minister for Mon National Affairs in U Nu’s cabinet during 1960s and arrested by Gen. Ne Win in 1962 and was put in jail.

Nai Aung Htun was a charismatic leader during 1950s and 1960s when the Mon people have massively involved in movement for the equal racial rights and self-determination.   He was the leader of MPF from 1954 to 1962 until Gen. Ne Win put him in jail.   In the beginning, MPF started armed struggle against the central Rangoon governments and then it became a registered party in 1958 and involved in elections in Burma’s parliamentary era.   He was also elected as a MP and U Nu appointed him as a minister.   MPF was also abolished in 1963 by Gen. Ne Win after his arrest.  

After he passed away, the current regime also honored him with the first prize of serving nation offered by Union of Burma for his past sacrifice and good-work to the nation.

 

 

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