Independent Mon News Agency – About 100 representatives from different Township Mon Literature and Culture Committees from various Mon communities in lower part of Burma held a coordinating meeting on 24th July in Nai Shwe Kyin Library in the capital of Mon State and agreed to form a focal organization, Mon Literature and Culture Association (Central) in order to register as legal ‘social organization’ in Burma (Myanmar).
A key participant, Nai Thet Lwin, leader of Mon National Day committee, said, “Township level Mon literature and culture committees have been already existing. But now, we are in need of solid and coordinating these all organizations (to stand as one)”.
Dr. Min Kyin Win, the former MP elected in 1990 elections from Mon National Democratic Front (MNDF), was elected as ‘Chairperson’ of the Association.
The participants in the meeting also discussed a plan to register that coordinating Mon literature and culture organization to the new government as ‘social organization’ in the Mon community and supports the social activities in maintaining Mon literature, culture, art, and provide educational supports.
Currently, only Moulmein and Rangoon Mon Literature and Culture Committees are having registration from the former government, and they have not been re-newed.
The participants believed that since the new government starts allowing social organizations’ registration, and so that the Association (Central) will be considered as ‘social organization’.
The participants in the meeting came from all Townships in Mon State, some townships in Karen State and Tenasserim Division, and Mon literature and culture group in Pegu (the former capital of Mon Kingdom).
The Mon Literature and Culture Association (Central) opens their offices in former New Mon State Party President Nai Shwe Kyin’s Literary based in Moulmein, the capital of Mon State.
With an aim to promote knowledge and education among Mon people, NMSP President Nai Shwe Kyin established a library in the capital with initial financial assistance from former military regime, SPDC, and donations from Mon people.
The Association also discussed forming of library maintenance committee to look after the library. The literary have been used as meeting places for social activities of Mon organizations.
