Min Thu-Ta – The New Mon State Party (NMSP) has replied to peace representatives from the Mon State government that the party will only enter into dialogue
with the Burmese government as a member of the United Nationalities Federal Council (UNFC), according to Nai Htaw Mon, President of NMSP.
Nai Htaw Mon said, “NMSP must make its stance according to the policies of the UNFC. These policies are that the State Government will make a preliminary dialogue with UNFC, and then declare a nationwide ceasefire. After that, a political dialogue will be discussed.”
In the preliminary dialogue with representatives of the Mon State government on 6 October in Ye, NMSP already expressed that they would agree to a ceasefire and peace talks only according to UNFC policies.
Via the peace representatives, the Mon State government discussed with NMSP plans to develop a ceasefire agreement, to re-open a liaison office, to get agreement in advance if weapons were to be carried outside limited areas, and to continue a negotiation with the central government for local development.
“It is not appropriate to battle in one territory after having a ceasefire in another territory. Therefore, as members of UNFC, each single member will not make any agreement with the government. However, there is a policy that each member can separately meet with the government’s representatives. It is already known that the discussion will also be according to UNFC policies when the KNU meets with the government,” continued Nai Htaw Mon.
The Overseas Mon Coordinating Committee (OMCC) released a statement to NMSP at the beginning of October, asking NMSP not to enter into peace dialogue with the Mon State government if UNFC members were not included in the action.
Burmese government military units are currently battling with the Kachin Independence Organization (KIO), Shan State Army-South (SSA-S), and the Karen National Union (KNU), so OMCC warned that the government is using a divide-and-rule system against ethnic armed groups.
UNFC was formed on February 17 of this year with 12 ethnic armed groups, including six core groups and six alliance groups.
