The New Mon State Party will hold a youth seminar, aimed at university-aged Mon men and women, to discuss Mon youths’ political opinions and views at the NMSP’s private compound in Moulmein district, in New Mon State Party controlled area, on Oct 13.

The youth seminar was first held in 2007 at Bee Yee River area in Mon State. The youths came from Mon State, from inside the rest of Burma, and from the Thai-Burmese border area.

A committee member from the seminar board told IMNA’s reporters that the board invited 60 youth representatives from various parts of Burma, and the committee hopes that with the addition of observers, as many as 100 youths will attend the seminar.

Given that this seminar is being planned shortly after the Burmese government’s recent restrictions on NMSP taxing, the seminar board members are concerned that the Burmese government will view the seminar as an attempt by the NMSP to organize Mon youths against Burma’s military government before the 2010 election.

“The Burmese government will think that NMSP hold the youth seminar to prepare their strength for advocacy,” said NMSP Vice General Secretary Nai Chan Toi.

Nai Chan Toi claims that they decided to hold the youth seminar on the Oct 13 of 2009 for a second time before the Burmese government could officially announce the date for the general elections in 2010. Such an arrangement ideally allows the youths invited to discuss and plan their actions far in advance of next year’s elections.

According to the seminar committee member interviewed by IMNA, the youths invited will discuss a variety of topics, including their involvement and roles in Burma’s current political climate, and their opinions regarding Burma’s current political situation.