It’s Mon National Day… where thousands of Mon people in Yangon celebrate their national day.
At the corner of the event, a special desk is placed to collect Mon people’s data for the national census. 34-year-old government officer Ma Thandar Khaing is a Mon. But on her ID card, she’s identified as Burman – the ethnic majority in the country.
“When we went to immigration to issue my ID, I accidentally stated as a Burman. I didn’t think about that carefully… but it was a mistake. I’m a Mon, so I should state myself as a Mon too.”
Nai Min Taung Shin is a vice chairman of Mon National Day Celebration committee. This is the second time for them to have this celebration after the military rule.
“On paper, the government would support ethnic groups if they wanted to maintain or develop their culture identity… but in reality, they never did. The government even didn’t give permission to do and they watched dog us. So once ethnic groups could not celebrate their significant day, they felt frustrated. We felt they try to finish us slowly.”
Under the military regime, ethnic minority groups are suppressed and discriminated. There was less job opportunity if they identify themselves as minority group. Director of Mon Population list collection in Yangon Min Soe Aung says they want to change this for this year’s national census.
“The ministry of immigration is not taking this issue seriously and so do ethnic minorities. In some cases, ethnic minority’s population lists are manipulated. So the number of ethnic populations is small. We found that 7 out of 10 people are manipulated in the list.”
Aung says, even if the ID and housing census stated someone as a Mon, but on the government list, they put Burmese. And because of that, he says, minority groups lose opportunities and rights. “Under the constitution, each ethnic group of population that reaches 0.01 percent of the total population of that particular state or division can elect their own MP. So we want to know the exact number of Mon people in Yangon division so we can have our own MP. That’s why we’re doing this.”
At the Mon National Day celebration, a drama displays how ethic Mon lives in harmony with other ethnic groups. The play also shows how a Mon hero fought against a Chinese commando to save the Burmese Kingdom. But after the civil war started in 1962, ethnic groups fought for their identity and rights. Some conflicts continue until now, explains Min Soe Aung, because of inequality.
“All ethnic people have been living here since centuries ago. So equality is as important as democracy and human rights to achieve peace in the country. They’re all related with one another. When these components are fulfilled, we can have peace.”
It was not until the reformist President Thein Sein took power in 2012 that ethnic groups can enjoy more freedom to show their culture and identity. The government now allows all eight ethnic groups to have celebrations and teach their own language. 34-year-old Kyaw Min Min is from Rakhine ethnic group. “I’m proud being a Rakhine because we have our own culture and literature.”
The final report of the nationwide population and housing census will be launched next year before the 2015 general elections.
