Mon forge their own path in Myanmar's civil war

Heirs to a great civilization navigate a turbulent political landscape

A girl brushes her teeth in Mawlamyine, the capital of Myanmar's Mon state, in 2019. The Mon are said to have more in common with the country's Burman majority than most other minorities living in Myanmar's highlands, but their culture and traditions remain strong. © Reuters

DENIS D. GRAY, Contributing writer

December 21, 2023 08:00 JST

CHIANG MAI, Thailand -- Once among the greatest civilizations in Southeast Asia, the Mon fought Myanmar's central government for half a century from 1948, seeking to resurrect some of their bygone glories. Today, though, the Mon are on the sidelines as other ethnic minorities battle Myanmar's military regime in a bloody civil war.