Mon Peace Defence Front plans to establish new political party

After surrendering its arms, a Mon splinter faction wants to muster its forces and form a political party, its chair announced on October 20.

“We are planning to establish a political party with the available forces in our group before the 2020 General Election,” Nain Shwe Aung, chair of the MPDF, told the press in Thanbyuzayat.

“There is already a diversity of parties among our [Mon] people. The public has also said this … Two Mon parties became three Mon parties. There will now be four parties after our party is established. We are considering whether this will cause disunity among our people. We are negotiating with Mon political leaders. We will reveal what path we will choose when the time is right,” he added.

The Mon National Party (MNP), the All Mon Region Democracy Party (AMRDP), and the Women’s Party (Mon) are negotiating to unify all the Mon political parties under one banner.

“We heard about this issue. Whatever it is, only one Mon political party is needed if one listens to the voice of the Mon public, but everyone has the right to establish a party in this multi-party democratic system. If they wish to establish a new party, they should listen to the voice of the Mon public,” said MNP’s general secretary Nai Layih Tamarh.

The MPDF has around 130 members and they are cooperating with local authorities in fighting crime, according to Nai Aung Shwe.

The New Mon State Party (NMSP)’s former chief of staff Major Gen Nai Aung Naing surrendered arms in 2008 and established the MPDF. After Nai Aung Naing passed way in August 2010, the MPDF further fracture into two groups, one led by Nai Shaung and one lead by former vice chair Nai Shwe Aung.