Bangkok – The overseas Mon Students held an annual meeting at Samutsakhorn
town, west of Bangkok attended by members and supporters of the organization. The voting system elected seven Executive and eleven Central Committee members including two females.

The “Election Commission” led by Rev. Ajar Ponnya and Nai Phong, key advisors of the organization observed the AGM. Among those elected, Ong Tala Nai (Nai Sao Ma) was selected as Chairman, Cheam Rot as Vice-Chairman, Mon Chan Mon (Sein Tun) as Secretary General and Saw Mon Eim as Joint Secretary General.

Newly elected Chairman of the Overseas Mon National Students’ Organization
(OMNSO), Ong Tala Nai was a former student from Kya Inn Technical High School who devoted time in Thailand for over five years as an active member of the organization.

The organization assigned three members led by Ajar Ponnya of Wat Prok Temple who has English language and management skills to organize a self-help education class. “We plan to develop skills and education for our members and supporters as a top priority.” Mr Ong said.

The organization slightly changed its image with a new outlook and has restructured the central committee body. The new elected members are responsible for fostering the role of OMNSO in politics, democracy campaigns, foreign affairs, language and culture as being at the top of the agenda and the EC will lead all tasks in the forthcoming two-year term.

The new elected members are young but have worked in various fields for the
last 3-5 years in national affairs both in Thailand and Burma as part of a youth wing unit of a Mon political party in Mon State.

Since 1990, the overseas Mon students have actively worked for human rights
and democracy in Burma. As an independent organization of the Mon community
in exile, OMNSO’s policy is to fight for students’ rights, especially Mon students in various universities and institutions in Burma.

Since the crackdown on democratic organizations from Burma in Thailand, the
OMNSO keeps a low profile outside of Bangkok in Samutsakhon city working
with migrant workers. The organization receives assistance from local Mon migrant workers for activities rather than aid from overseas.

“Members of Foreign Affairs will contact other organizations for assistance and support to run self-help classes, newly elected chairman Mr Ong said.
Over the last over ten years, the OMNSO closely work with overseas Mon organizations. It has published journals and opened a Mon Language School
in Ratchburi Camp until 1999. Even though the organization is smaller than
other students’ organizations it represents many Mon students in Mon State and Thailand.

The OMNSO was founded in early 1990 while many Mons fled to Thailand taking
shelter as refugees after the Headquarters of the New Mon State Party, at the Three Pagodas Pass Thai-Burma border, was overrun by the Burmese Army.

Its founders and leaders Nai Cham Toik, Nai Myint Soe, Nai Ong Mon (Tun Yee)
and Nai Weang Murn now reside in exile (USA, Canada, and Australia). Even
though many resettled in third countries, OMNSO members remain in Thailand
living at the safe camp (Tham Hin) and scattered around Thailand as illegal
immigrants.