View source for Mong Ton

{{Infobox settlement
|official_name                   = Mong Ton
|other_name = မိုင်းတုံမြို့
|native_name=ဝဵင်းမိူင်းတူၼ်
| pushpin_map                     = Myanmar
| pushpin_label_position          = left
| pushpin_map_caption             =
| settlement_type                 = Town
| image_skyline                   =
| image_map                       =
| map_caption                     =
| subdivision_type                = Country
| subdivision_name                = {{flag|Myanmar}}
| subdivision_type1               = [[Administrative divisions of Burma|State]]
| subdivision_name1               = {{flag|Shan State}}
| subdivision_type2               = [[Districts of Myanmar|District]]
| subdivision_name2               = [[Mong Hsat District]]
| subdivision_type3               = [[Townships of Myanmar|Township]]
| subdivision_name3               = [[Mong Ton Township]]
| unit_pref                       = Imperial
| area_total_km2                  =
| population                      = About 90,000
| population_as_of                =
| population_density_km2          = auto
| coordinates                     = {{coord|20|18|N|98|56|E|region:MM|display=inline}}
| elevation_ft                    = 1612
| elevation_m                     =
| timezone                        = MMT
| utc_offset                      = +6:30
| website                         =
}}
'''Mong Ton''' ([[Burmese language|Burmese]]: မိုင်းတုံမြို့, [[MLC Transcription System|MLCTS]]: ''muing.tu.mrui'') also known historically as '''Möngtung''' and '''Maington''', is a town and seat of [[Mong Ton Township]] in [[Mong Hsat District]], [[Shan State]] in eastern [[Myanmar]] near the border with [[Thailand]]. ''Mong'' is equivalent to '''[Township or land]'''."Ton"is equivalent to [Royal City].<ref>[http://www.world-airport-codes.com/myanmar/mong-ton-8607.html World Airport Codes] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091212033310/http://www.world-airport-codes.com/myanmar/mong-ton-8607.html |date=2009-12-12 }}</ref> It is located in the [[Daen Lao Range]], in the eastern part of the [[Shan State]], east of the [[Salween River]]. Mong Ton lies on the National Highway 22 and connected to [[NarrkgMuu]] and [[Ponparkyin]], is also connected to [[Mong Hsat]] by National Highway 49 which begins to the north-east of the town.<ref>[http://www.maplandia.com/burma/shan/mong-tung/mong-ton/ Maplandia World Gazetteer]</ref>
==History==
Mong Ton has had a turbulent and unstable history.<ref>{{Cite book|author=Lintner, Bertil|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=AYBuAAAAMAAJ&q=Mong+Ton&dq=Mong+Ton&cd=5|title=Burma in revolt: opium and insurgency since 1948|publisher=Westview Press|page=224|year=1994 | isbn=978-0-8133-2344-2}}</ref> According to Shan tradition [[Naresuan|King Naresuan]] was cremated and his ashes interred in a [[stupa]] in Mong Ton.<ref>The Nation, [http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2006/04/30/headlines/headlines_30002880.php Warrior king remains a very modern mystery] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110617062149/http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2006/04/30/headlines/headlines_30002880.php |date=2011-06-17 }}, 30 April 2006</ref> in 1888, when the area was part of [[British Burma]], Möngtung, Möng Hang, Möng Hat and Möng Kyawt, were claimed by [[Siam]] and were occupied secretly by Siamese troops. A fifth district, Möng Hsat, was also claimed by Siam, but no garrisons were posted there.<ref>[http://www.gutenberg.org/files/45915/45915-h/45915-h.htm The Pacification of Burma, by Sir Charles Haukes Todd Crosthwaite]</ref> The districts were [[annexed]] by Thailand in 1942, following the [[Japanese invasion of Burma]] and were added to the [[Saharat Thai Doem]] territory. They were returned to [[British Burma]] at the end of [[World War II]].<ref>[http://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic.php?f=65&t=60485&start=30 Axis History Forum - Thailand]</ref>
More recently there have been conflicts between the [[Shan State Army – South]] (SSA-S) and the [[Tatmadaw|Myanmar Armed Forces]], although the problem is worse in the [[Kyethi]], [[Mongkung]], and [[Laihka, Mong Tong|Laihka]] Townships.<ref name="tbbc">{{Cite web|url=http://www.tbbc.org/idps/borderstates.htm|title=Southern Shan State|publisher=Thailand Burma Border Consortium|access-date=February 28, 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100328135718/http://www.tbbc.org/idps/borderstates.htm|archive-date=March 28, 2010}}</ref>  In Mong Ton and [[Mong Hsat Township]], the SPDC has demanded the removal of some UWSA military outposts and the Burmese Army is exerting more pressure on Lahu militias to conscript more soldiers and prepare to fight both the SSA–S and the UWSA.<ref name="tbbc"/>  The SPDC supported three basic military training courses for the Lahu militia in Mong Ton during 2009.<ref name="tbbc"/>
Given its location near the border with Thailand and internal conflict, the Myanmar Armed Forces have the important IB277 military base just outside the town. There are five Burmese army battalions in Mong Ton town alone.<ref name="FBR">[http://www.taigress.info/politics/p_82.html Free Burma Rangers] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081121202518/http://www.taigress.info/politics/p_82.html |date=2008-11-21 }}</ref> Trafficking of [[narcotics]] is a major problem in Mong Ton and Burma is the number two opium producer in the world after [[Afghanistan]], and one of the leading producers of amphetamines in South East Asia.<ref name="FBR"/> The [[Free Burma Rangers]] have alleged that the army is involved in the production and trafficking of narcotics in order to profit from the trade in opium, heroin and amphetamines.<ref name="FBR"/> Opium is cultivated and it is not only processed for trade abroad it is also consumed by some local villagers and has created drug addiction problems.<ref name="FBR"/>
==References==
{{Reflist}}
{{Shan State}}
{{Coord|20|18|N|98|56|E|display=title|region:MM_type:city_source:GNS-enwiki}}
[[Category:Populated places in Mong Hsat District]]
[[Category:Mong Ton Township]]
[[Category:Township capitals of Myanmar]]