The planned remodeling of Mongpawn Palace – the home of one of Myanmar’s independence martyrs – has yet to make much headway due to a lack of funds.
The Mongpawn Haw (palace) in southern Shan State belonged to Saopha Sao San Tun, the chief of Mongpawn and minister of the hill regions in the pre-independence government. He was assassinated along with Bogyoke Aung San and the other government ministers at the Secretariat in 1947.
Shan State monks have long tried to renovate the Mongpawn Saopha’s homestead, with an aim of turning it into a museum and tourist attraction. But a shortage of donations has prevented the work from getting started.
“The Sayadaw [presiding monk] often comes here for the renovation, but they haven’t collected enough donations yet,” said Sai Win Htwe, a Shan youth from Mongpawn.
The 130-year-old palace used to be expansive, and was situated on sweeping grounds. But the property has fallen into disrepair after years of neglect.
“Mongpawn Haw used to be around 280-square-feet wide but now the land where the haw was is gone,” said Sao Thaung Tin, one of Mongpawn Saopha’s three living children.
The Mongpawn Saopha and his wife Mahadevi Sao Nan Khin Thaung had six children. Sao Say Hom lives in Australia, Sao Kai Fu lives in Yangon and Sao Thaung Tin is the last to remain in Mongpawn.
