Military junta slashes ethnic affairs budget

July 19, 2022

HURFOM: The Mon State government allocated a separate budget line for non-Burmese ethnics and is allowing the funding to be used to support the literature and culture sector. However, the military junta halved the budget allocation for this fiscal year.

After the start of 2021, the ethnic affairs budget remained at the same level as previous years. Each ethnic group had received 100 million Kyat, but in the 2022 fiscal year, each ethnic groups were allocated just 50 million Kyat.

“The Mon State government has allocated a separate budget for three non-Burmese ethnics. But this year, each will have only a half amount = 50 million Kyat,” said an activist who works for the Mon literature and culture sector.

Since the time of the former government led by President U Thein Sein, the Mon State government had allocated a separate budget for Mon, Karen and Pa’O ethnics.

“It looks like there is no separate budget for ethnic affairs. Budget for literature and culture has already been halved. As far as I know, the government also has no budget to support ethnic language courses offered in the government school,” said the activist.

This move by the military junta will create limitations and difficulties in supporting ethnic affairs.

Written by Modinator · Filed Under News