On August 9th 2009, Mon University Students from Rangoon University gathered together to welcome incoming Mon freshman and celebrate departure graduated students. The students held the celebration on Banyin Naung Street, at the Lion City Restaurant, where they also honored a student who summated a winning essay on Mon Language for a contest arranged by he Mon Culture and Literature Committee (MCLC).
Mon Students have been banned from holding such ethnic graduation celebrations on Rangoon University campus since 2005. This ban does not only apply to Mon, but all ethnic students who attend the university. Currently 7 ethnic groups are represented on Rangoon University campus.
Previously the Burmese government had acknowledged Mon Students in Rangoon and allowed them to practice their culture legally; however they have since curtailed this policy, placing more restrictions and outright bans on Mon cultural rights. According to students, in addition to being unable to hold their cultural welcoming ceremony, they are not allowed to discuss politics, and when speaking at an event must have a Burmese translator.
In 2002 the Burmese Education Department (of lower Burma) placed the ban on holding ethnic welcoming celebrations, claiming that if every nationality held a celebration at the school, there wouldn’t be enough space.
“They (Burmese government) don’t allow us to make celebrations at the university so we have to go in the restaurant and hold the celebration there.” Said a student who is studying at Rangoon University. “They didn’t disturb anything however. We’re very happy and also students from Moulmein and Hpa-an University attended.”
According to a hand out distributed by the MCLC, from 2000 till 2004, the MCLC in Rangoon was allowed to host freshman welcoming celebrations for one day on the university campus. At the time Mon student were able to celebrate on the main university campus on the first floor of Sein Ra Tu hall. Since 2005 the MCLC has hosted the yearly celebration at restaurants.
“Since 2002, the Burma Authority asked Thein Gi Shwe Shop to go around the university and take a student photos,” recalled the general secretary of the MCLC. “That shop also donated 100,000 kyat to the MCLC. In 2004, many ethnic students in Rangoon Universities couldn’t make their ethnic national days – only the Chin Nationality and the Mon Nationality were able to.”
In 1999, the university was closed by the military because of political unrest. It was later reopened, but there has since been a presiding fear on the part of the Burmese government over the threat of potential political organizing by students.
This years celebration came after lengthy preparation and organization efforts by students, who often come from all over the city from different campuses and universities. There are over 1,000 Mon students in Rangoon but only an estimated 100 attended the celebration. According to students many wanted to join in the festivities, but due to distance and security it was difficult to attend.
