Rival Mon political parties to hold direct talks

The All Mon Regions Democracy Party (AMDP) and the Mon National Party (MNP) will hold direct discussions without an intermediary, according to the AMDP general secretary Dr. Min Nwe Soe. The planned meeting is something of a breakthrough for the two parties, whose sometimes acrimonious feud has frustrated efforts at a cohesive Mon political agenda.

“We had been planning to have a direct meeting, so when the MNP contacted us to set up a conference, we agreed. Unifying the two parties won’t be on the agenda for the initial meeting because we first need to build a relationship of trust,” Dr. Min Nwe Soe said.

The AMDP delegation to the meeting will consist of three members of the party’s central executive committee, Nai Maung Maung, Nai San Tin and Nai Than Shwe. MNP will be represented by Nai Chit Oo, Nai Htaw Eain and Nai Myint Lwin, according to the party’s general secretary Nai Layie Tamarh. Neither leader gave any indication of when the meeting would take place.

“The coordination team will stop mediating between the two parties, and they will now meet without coordination,” Nai Layie Tamarh said.

Besides the MNP and AMDP, there is also the Women’s Party (Mon), which is not currently involved in unification talks. Frustrated with the impasse between MNP and AMDP, some Mon political leaders are considering creating another Mon party that they believe will better represent Mon interests.