The Committee of Mon Population Data Collection has collected the population statistics of more than 62,000 Mon living in the Tenasserim Division, an increase from the Union Election Commission’s (UEC) 40,000 population count of Mon living in the division during the 2010 elections.
The Committee of Mon Population Data Collection began gathering data on the Mon population in Tenasserim Division in January 2014.
Mi Ngwe Lay, from the Committee of Mon Population Data Collection said: “So far, we have more than 62,000 Mon people [living in Tenasserim Division], and there are some far-off areas, and some people left to gather information on, but, we will continue to collect [population statistics] there."
She said that the data collected on the Tenasserim Division’s Mon population would be submitted to the Tenasserim Division Government, Union Government, and the Union Hluttaw. Then the committee would work hard to have a minister representing the Mon population in Tenasserim Division for the 2015 elections.
According to Mon State Hluttaw Representative, Min San Tin, data is being collected in order to get an accurate number of the Mon population, and to appoint ministers representing Mon people in other non-Mon states and divisions in which there is a Mon population.
In an interview with IMNA he said: “In other states and divisions if there are more than 60,000 Mon a minister representing Mon people can be appointed there."
Of the ten townships in Tenasserim Division, the majority of Mon live in Yebyu Township, with smaller populations in other areas, including Tavoy, Mergui, Kawthaung, and Tenasserim cities.
The UEC also stated that there are less than 60,000 Mon living in Rangoon Division, but the Committee of Mon Population Data Collection has been gathering data about the Mon population in Rangoon Division to get a more accurate number.
