Illegal arms, including guns, ammunition, and drugs were seized at the Mon Peace and Defense Front–Special (MPDF-Special) [liaison] office in Hpa-Auk village,Mawlamyine Township, Mon State.
MPDF-Special was cooperating with the government to provide security for Hpa-auk Village and had a disarmament agreement with the government. In an interview with Mon News Agency, MPDF-Special Chairperson Nai Shwe Aung condemned the actions of his fellow MPDF-Special members in question.
“It is right about the seizure. Nai Cherry’s group [MPDF-Special] negotiated with the government army to take charge of special security to provide security for the Hpa-auk village, and they set up a liaison [office] there. They were the ones responsible for seizing drugs, but now they are the ones dealing them. They should not do that. Taking actions in accordance with the law, against the group, it’ll affect the group’s image, so action must be taken against Nai Aung and his peers,” said MPDF-Special Chairperson Nai Shwe Aung.
A 40-person force from Southeast Command, along with the village administrator and police force, raided the MPDF-Special liaison office. They seized several kinds of guns and ammunition.
In addition, 358 tablets of Yaba, 32.6586 grams of marijuana, and other materials for drug use were seized at an MPDF-affiliated house in western Hpa-Auk village, according to police records.
According to Thant Zin, deputy police officer of Mupon Police Station, “Guns and ammunition were seized from the major rank officers [of MPDF-Special]. Among them, only one gun is real and the rest are plastic. Yaba and marijuana, classified as narcotic drugs, have also been seized from the farm house,”said the Deputy Police Officer.
The deputy police officer explained that the real gun was a point 22 pistol and the rest were fake guns. The seized guns were handed to Tatmadaw and the drugs were sent to the Criminal Investigation Department (Insein) in accordance with the rules and regulations.
“It’s not the responsibility of the police force to handle the case from beginning to end. Since we (police force) can handle only two thirds [of the case], it’s a bit difficult for us,” said the Deputy Police Officer”
The Mon Peace and Defense Front (MPDF) was started by former New Mon State Party (NMSP) General Aung Naing and some fellow members after they split from NMSP. They entered into a disarmament agreement with the Government in 2008. A former NMSP colonel, Nai Yaung, along with fellow NMSP members, also broke away from the NMSP and joined the MPDF. After Nai Aung Naing passed away, Nai Yaung succeeded him as chair, and Nai Shwe Aung became vice-chair. However, Nai Shwe Aung eventually broke from the group and formed a new group, the Mon Peace and Defense Front – Special (MPDF-Special). According to an MPDF-Special press conference in 2017, the MPDF-Special, led by Nai Shwe Aung, has been collaborating with government authorities to eliminate and suppress illegal activities.
