Mon State 493372 224026509 2008-07-07T00:03:17Z Kwantonge 2299493 /* Economy */ {{coor title dm|17|0|N|97|20|E}} {{Infobox Burmesestatedivision |englishname = Mon State |burmesename = [[Image:Mon_State.gif]]<br/>မွန်ပြည်နယ် |transcription = mwan pranynai |flag = monstate |capital = [[Mawlamyaing]] (Moulmein) |region = South |area = 12,155 |population = 2,466,000 |ethnic = [[Mon people|Mon]], [[Bamar]], [[Anglo-Burmese people|Anglo-Burmese]], [[Chin]], [[Kachin]], [[Kayin]], [[Rakhine]], [[Shan]], Burmese-English |religious = [[Buddhism]], [[Christianity]] |locatormapfile = MyanmarMon }} '''Mon State''' is an administrative division of [[Burma|Myanmar]]. It is sandwiched between [[Kayin State]] on the east, the [[Andaman Sea]] on the west, [[Bago Division]] on the north and [[Tanintharyi Division]] on the south. It has a short border with [[Thailand]]'s [[Kanchanaburi Province]] at its south-eastern tip. The land area is 12,155 km². Mon State includes many small islands along its 566 km of coastline. Its capital is [[Mawlamyaing]], formerly Moulmein.  == History == Humans lived in the region that is now Myanmar as early as 11,000 years ago, but the first identifiable civilisation is that of the [[Mon people|Mon]]. The Mon probably began migrating into the area southward from western China in the period from [[3000 BC]] to [[1500 BC]]and settled in the [[Chao Phraya River]] basin of southern Thailand around the 6th century AD.{{Fact|date=February 2007}} The Mon moved westward into the [[Irrawaddy Delta]] of southern Myanmar in the ensuing centuries. Mon tradition holds that the [[Suwannaphum|Suwarnabhumi]] mentioned in the [[Edicts of Ashoka]] and the [[Dipavamsa|''Dîpavamsa'']] was their first kingdom (pronounced Suvanna Bhoum), founded around the port of [[Thaton]] in about [[300 BC]], however, this is disputed by scholars. Oral tradition suggests that they had contact with [[Buddhism]] via seafaring as early as the [[3rd century BC]], though definitely by the [[2nd century BC]] when they received an envoy of monks from [[Ashoka]], and the Mon converted to [[Theravada Buddhism]] sometime before the sixth century [http://www.gutenberg.org/files/16847/16847-h/16847-h.htm], and they adopted the Indian [[Pali script]]. Much of the Mon's written records have been destroyed through wars. The Mons blended Indian and Mon cultures together in a hybrid of the two civilisations. By 825 they had firmly established themselves in southern and southeastern Myanmar and founded the cities of [[Bago]] (Pegu) and [[Thaton]], and by the mid-9th century, they had come to dominate all of southern Myanmar. ===Mon kingdoms (9th-11th/13th-16th/18th centuries)=== {{main|Mon kingdoms}} The first recorded kingdom that can undisputedly be attributed to the Mon was [[Dvaravati]] which prospered until around 1000 AD when their capital was sacked by the [[Khmer Empire]] and most of the inhabitants fled west to present-day Burma and eventually founded new kingdoms. These, too, eventually came under pressure from new ethnic groups arriving from the north. ===Advent of the British=== [[Lower Burma]], including what is now Mon State, was conquered by [[Great Britain]] in 1824 after the [[First Anglo-Burmese War]]. The Mon assisted the British in the war, in return for promises of their own leadership after the defeat of Burma. Hundreds of thousands of Mons who had migrated into [[Siam]] returned to their homeland when it came under British rule. However, British promises to restore the Mon Kingdom were never fulfilled. During colonial times, Moulmein had a substantial [[Anglo-Burmese]] population; an area of the city was known as 'Little England' due to the large Anglo-Burmese community, however nowadays this has dwindled to all but a handful of families as most have left for the UK or Australia. ===Burmese independence=== In 1947, the Mon sought [[self-determination]] from the yet unformed [[Union of Burma]]; however Burmese Prime Minister [[U Nu]] refused, saying that no separate national rights for the Mon should be contemplated. The Burmese army moved into areas claimed by the Mon nationalists and imposed rule by force which resulted in a civil war. Mon separatists formed the [[Mon Peoples Front]], which was later superseded by the [[New Mon State Party]] (NMSP) in 1962. Since 1949, the eastern hills of the state (as well as portions of Thaninthaya Division) have been under control of the NMSP, and its military arm, the [[Mon National Liberation Front]] (MNLF). In addition to fighting the central government, the MNLF has also fought the [[Karen people]] over control of lucrative border crossings into [[Thailand]]. In 1974, partially to assuage Mon [[separatist]] demands, the theoretically autonomous Mon State, was created out of portions of [[Thaninthayi Division]] and [[Bago Division]]. Resistance continued until 1995, when NMSP and [[SLORC]] agreed a cease-fire and in 1996, the [[Mon Unity League]] was founded. SLORC troops continued to operate in defiance of the agreement.  The [[human rights]] situation in Mon State has not improved. International organizations have repeatedly accused the Myanmar government for massive [[human rights violations]] in Mon State, including [[forced labor]], arbitrary detention, [[population transfer]], property confiscation, rape, etc. ==Demographics and geography== [[Image:MonStateMudon.jpg|thumb|250px|Limestone landscape near Mudon, south of Mawlamyaing.]] Although there are no modern figures on the population of Mon State, it is estimated that the population is around 2,466,000 or 8,466,000. The majority are [[Mon people|Mon]]. However, there is a large number of ethnic [[Bamar]], as well as members of the [[Kayin people|Kayin]],and [[Pa-O]] ethnic groups and a small, dwindling [[Anglo-Burmese]] community. Many are isolated and many do not understand or speak [[Burmese language|Burmese]]. The majority of people are [[Buddhist]]. Bordering Bago Division in the south of Sittaung River Mouth, Kayin State in the east, Thailand and Taninthayi Division in the south and Andaman Sea and Gulf of Mottama in the West, Mon state is situated between latitudes 14°52' north and 17°32 ' north and east longitudes 96° 51 ' east and 98° 13 ' east. ===Climate and weather=== Mon State has a tropical climate. It has a temperate weather as it is located in the low latitude zone and near the sea. The state has only slight changes in temperature. The average temperature of Mawlamyine in January is 78° F (25.6°C) and in April is 85°C (29.4°C). Annual rainfall in Mawlamyine is 190 inches and in Thaton is 217 inches. Especially. rain is much heavy in July and August. == Economy == Mon State has a cultivated area of nearly 4.5 million acres (18,000 km²), mostly under [[rice]]. The major secondary crop is [[rubber]]. Orchards and rubber plantations are found in the mountainous areas while Coastal fishing and related industries such as production of dried fish, [[fish sauce]] and [[agar-agar]] are in southern part, [[Ye]] district. Production of [[Betel nut]] is also a sustaining business of Mon state, as the Mon pheasants preserved their heredity land onwards along with the government regulations, however, there are some many parts of uncultivated crude land in the area closed to neighbour [[Karen state]]. Moreover, modern business development includes growing of [[cashew]] trees (acajoύ, in Portuguese), from which they collect the cashew nut for market elsewhere. [[Image:Mawlamyaingbridge.gif|thumb|240px|Mawlamyine Bridge looks un-modernized, but the longest bridge of Myanmar serves the flow of economy south-north.]] Other industries include [[paper]], [[sugar]], rubber [[tires]]. [[Thaton]] has a major factory (Burmese, Ka-Sa-La) of rubber products run by Ministry of Industry (1). Forests cover approximately half of the area and timber production is one of the major contributors to the economy. Minerals extracted from the area include [[salt]], [[antimony]], and [[granite]]. [[Natural resources]] such as forest products, and onshore and offshore mineral resources, are exploited only by top Myanmar military leaders and foreign companies. At the present time one of the biggest [[foreign investment]]s into Myanmar is for the exploitation of [[natural gas]] reserves in Mon State. The Yadana Gas project which connected pipelines alongside the towns of Mon state made harassed danger to the native Mon land and [[Mon people]]. In Mudon, a city near [[Mawlamyaing]], there is an applied research center for [[agricultural science]] with labouratory bases in rubber plantation and [[fertilization]] of some other species. In the past during the [[socialist]] regime, the trading of Mon state was exceptional because the Mon business persons had fantastic deals with the foreign enterprises from [[Singapore]], [[Malaysia]] and [[Thailand]]. Imports and exports of goods from and to that countries were made via seaports of [[Mawlamyaing]], Ye and [[Thanbyuzayat]] district. Although it seemed to be unofficial trading in the past, it absolutely developed Mon State if compared to the decline economy of the current situation. The future plans with [[tourism]] will benefit Mon state a lot as it has excellent transportation with the capital Rangoon. Transportation routes include Train, Bus, Sea line and Airlines. The newly opened [[Mawlamyaing Bridge]] gives quick access from southern [[Ye, Myanmar|Ye]] to North [[Bago]] and Rangoon by a day journey. [[Three Pagoda Pass]] is an alternative route which communicates Mon state with neighbour [[Kanchanaburi province]] of Thailand. ==Sites of interest== [[Image:Golden Rock.JPG|thumb|right|200px|[[Kyaiktiyo Pagoda]] is at 3615 ft high]] *[[Kyaiktiyo Pagoda]] (or) kyaik-isi-yo pagoda - A famous religious site with a steeple built on a rock covered with gold leaf, precariously balanced on the site of a cliff. Legend says that Buddha's hair was placed inside the pagoda, and its power keeps the rock from falling. *[[Thaton]] - the former capital of an ancient Mon kingdom, much earlier than [[Bagan]]. *[[Thanbyuzayat War Memorial(http://www.ksttours.com/destination-southern-myanmar.htm]] - [[death railway]] connected with [[the Bridge over the River Kwai]]. *Satse and Kyaik-Kami 18miles from Thanbyuzayati is a popular beach resort in Myanmar. *Belu-kyun (Belu island) opposite to Mawlamyaing is rich in chemical resources as well as traditional handmake products business. ==Politics and administration== Mon state has a capital of [[Mawlamyaing]], the third largest citiy in Myanmar. Administrative body is set under [[South Eastern Regional Command]] of [[Myanmar Army]] in Mawlamyine and [[Mawyawaddy Navy Command]] controls coastline security. There are many displaced army infantry [[battalion]]s at many towns in Mon state and [[Thaton]] has a Light Infantry Division (44). Major districts are divided as Mawlamyaing, Thaton, Ye district, etc. At present, army infantries are densely displaced in the former [[neutral territory]] of [[Ye, Myanmar|Ye]] district for future plans. [[Ye|Ye, Myanmar]] becomes the major city of Southern Mon State with Sector Operation Command of Air Defense, and Military Operations Command 19 based headquarters. ==Organization== Mon State consists two districts. They are *[[Mawlamyine District]] *[[Thaton District]] In Mon State, there are two districts, 10 township, 1 city, 10 town, 1199 villages. {{Template:Townships and cities, towns of Mon State}} ==Cities and Towns and villages== {| class="wikitable" |- ! Cities with large district ! Towns ! Villages |- | [[Mawlamyaing]] | [[Mudon]] | Kawt-bane |- | [[Thaton]] | [[Paung]] | [Kamawat][http://www.monzel.be link title] |- | [[Thanbyuzayat]] | Beelin | Pha-auk |- | [[Ye, Burma|Ye]] | [[Mottama]] | Pa-nga |- | [[Kyaikmaraw]] |[[Kyaik-kami]] | Zin-gyike |- | [[Kyaikto]] | Sit-taung | Thein-sake |- | [[Chaungzon]] | Lamine | [[Mawkanin]] |- | | | Ywar Lut |} {| class="wikitable" |- ! Islands |- | Belu-kyun |- | Kalar-goke island |} <gallery> Image:New Mon State Party flag.png|Flag </gallery> [http://www.monzel.be link title]==See also== * [[Myanmar Army]] * [[Mon people]] * [[Ye, Burma]] {{Administrative divisions of Burma}} ==References== *Kaowao News Group, [http://www.kaowao.org/News.81.php?#6] *Mawlamyaing culture, [http://www.mawlamyine.com] [[Category:Mon State| ]] [[Category:States of Burma]] [[Category:Mon people]] [[ca:Mon]] [[de:Mon-Staat]] [[et:Moni osariik]] [[es:Estado Mon]] [[fr:État Môn]] [[it:Stato Mon]] [[lt:Monų valstija]] [[mk:Мон]] [[my:မွန်ပြည်နယ်]] [[nl:Mon-staat]] [[ja:モン州]] [[no:Mon (stat)]] [[pl:Mon (stan)]] [[pt:Mon (estado)]] [[ru:Мон (штат)]] [[sh:Država Mon]] [[th:รัฐมอญ]] [[vi:Bang Mon]] [[zh:孟邦]]