On September 26, the military council issued a call on ethnic armed groups and the People’s Defense Forces (PDF) to put down their weapons and resolve political issues through political means.
However, the ethnic armed groups, including the New Mon State Party (NMSP-AD), the Karen National Union (KNU), and the Mon State Rescue Force (MSRF), stated that they rejected the military council’s appeal.
Below are compiled and presented the positions of NMSP-AD, KNU, and MSRF regarding the military council’s call for dialogue.
Padoh Saw Taw Nee (Spokesperson of the Karen National Union, KNU)
What they are doing now is entirely far from the reality of the current situation. We want to highlight that it’s not working at all. Upon observation, it is clear that they do not intend to break away from the military dictatorship system at all. They still use the same old tactics, playing tricks within our revolutionary organizations to prevent unity. They deliberately try to create divisions, so we can’t build solidarity. Their actions are apparent, especially how they bring one group in and leave another out. That’s why we can never accept it.
On our side, we have never denied that political issues should be resolved through political means. However, in the meetings and discussions that the KNU (Karen National Union) has had with the military over the years as part of the peace process, we can see that their approach remains unchanged. They still uphold the mindset of dominance and authoritarian thinking towards other groups. This is unacceptable. Therefore, if there are to be meetings or discussions, it should be made clear that we cannot trust people who are not committed to their promises. If they genuinely want to hold discussions, they must completely separate from politics and enter the necessary process of military reform. This process must be thoroughly completed, and they must come under a civilian government. That’s one condition they must accept.
Everyone is talking about building a federal union. However, in the past 70 years of our country’s history, we have never had a genuine federal constitution to build that union. They must accept this, and we will draft it. While they claim to be speaking sincerely, they continue to carry out airstrikes and atrocities against the people, committing war crimes, crimes against humanity, and severe human rights violations. They must be held accountable for these actions. There is no way we can grant them impunity any longer. If they accept these conditions, there will be room for dialogue and discussion. However, if they refuse, we will take coordinated action using all means—military, political, diplomatic, and economic sanctions, both internally and externally. We will unite with the people to ensure that this military dictatorship comes to an end once and for all.
Nai Naga (Spokesperson for the Mon State Resistance Force, MSRF)
In civilized societies, it’s an accepted norm that political organizations should discuss political issues through political means. However, when this military council does not even know what they are themselves, and that’s quite ridiculous. The military is not a political organization but a public servant to serve its people. This military council, which seized state power by force and has been terrorizing, oppressing, and killing the people, now calling for political dialogue, is, to me, nothing more than a joke. When faced with political, military, or external pressure and hardships throughout history, dictators have always used the same old tactic of offering political dialogue. Our focus should be on dismantling this terrorist military council as soon as possible and establishing a self-determined Mon State. We will continue to fight toward that goal.
In response to the so-called peace dialogue by the junta, no organization will accept it, nor will external pressures have any real impact. If this terrorist military council genuinely wants to resolve matters politically, they must first dismantle their military structure and return power to the people, contributing to the establishment of a peaceful and true new union. As for us, we will continue to fight until the military council is wholly defeated. Any political dialogue or peace talks proposed by the military council are not legitimate discussions. Soldiers are nothing more than armed servants of the people, and they have no right to political or sovereign power.
The so-called peace and political dialogues initiated by the military council are entirely meaningless, as they have unlawfully seized political and sovereign power from the people. Therefore, (1) the soldiers must return to the barracks, and (2) a universally accepted interim government must be formed, and it should promptly draft, present, and approve a federal union constitution representing all ethnic nationalities and the public. Otherwise, I must emphasize that the civil war will never end.
Nai Banyar Mon (Spokesperson for the New Mon State Party, NMSP-AD)
The military council’s call to resolve political issues through political means is the same tactic used whenever they face pressure. What they really mean is they want the armed revolutionary groups to disarm. Essentially, they want us to return under the control of the 2008 Constitution and then participate in future elections. We do not accept that framework. We will oppose any dialogue or negotiations under the 2008 Constitution. This includes rejecting elections under it. I want to emphasize that the military council’s appeal is not a genuine political solution. This tactic is no longer working.
The military must step back from politics for a genuine political resolution, and the military council’s 2008 Constitution must be abolished. Only by accepting a new constitution and establishing a federal democracy can meaningful political dialogue occur. Otherwise, neither we nor any of the armed organizations will accept it. Many other groups have also expressed similar sentiments. Our stance is clear: the 2008 Constitution must be abolished, and a federal democracy must be established, which means drafting a new constitution. We will be willing to engage in political dialogue if the military withdraws from political interference. The critical point is that we firmly oppose the 2008 Constitution and any elections based on it.
