Journey to Mandalay Nai Ong Ma-Nge (CEC of NMSP)’s

The tenth episode of Khan Sar Kyi is recorded in Mandalay Region; Bagan, Nyaung-U Township, Phauk Seik village and around Mandalay city. Nai Ong Ma-Nge, Central Executive member of New Mon State Party (NMSP) joined as a traveler/panelist in this episode. Nai Ong Ma-Nge has spent over 30 years in Mon revolution group and is now the deputy head of New Mon State Party (NMSP). He is also involved in the peace process representing his party MNSP. In the episode, Nai Ong Ma-Nge meets with a local villager from Bagan, whose farm lands –about 22 acers– was confiscated by military in 1990 and has not gotten any compensation till now. The villager shares that he had to stop his and his siblings’ education after their land was grabbed. There are many other families living in the area whose land were confiscated by military or business houses. Naing Ong Ma-Nge also visits the monastic school and meets the head monk to find out how the monastery in Mandalay is providing quality education to children from Kachin, Shan and Rakhine. He also talks with a Ta’ang (Palaung) lady who is working at the monastic school. He listens to her stories and sufferings while living as a minority in the middle of Burma people and overcoming those difficulties. At the end of this three days visit Nai Ong Ma-Nge meets with local MPs of Mandalay Region and discusses about land grabbing issues and how state government is working to compensate locals.