THE STATEMENT ON THE 61ST ANNIVERSARY OF MON REVOLUTION DAY MON EDUCATION NETWORK

Today is the 61^st Anniversary of Mon Revolution Day. On this memorable day, we pay tributes to those who have sacrificed their lives and those who are still struggling to achieve our ultimate victory, self-determination.

Since Burma gained her independence, the rights of non-Burmese ethnic nationalities, including the rights of Mon people, have immediately been ignored by every governments of Burma; AFPFL, BSPP, SLORC, and SPDC. Instead of granting their rights of self-determination, those governments have brutally oppressed the people by every possible means.

In order to be free from these brutalities and regain our natural rights of self-determination, our leaders from different periods of time have taken different responsibilities and have sacrificed their lives. Indeed, our leaders have taken responsibilities to regain our sovereignty not only after the independence of Burma, but since the fallen time of Hongsawatoi Kingdom. We, all the Mon people, greatly owed gratitude to these leaders, and therefore respectfully pay tributes to these great leaders.

On this special occasion, we earnestly urge all Mon people throughout the world;

1) To take whatever responsibilities we could in struggling for our freedom which is the primary goal of our leaders.

2) To build a unity among our Mon people and with other ethnic nationalities so that our struggling could be more effective.

We strongly demand government of Burma;

1) To freely allow ethnic nationalities to teach their language and

2) To freely allow ethnic nationalities to conduct their cultural and traditional activities in their respective states or areas.

Mon Education Network

August 16^th, 2008