According to spokespersons from the Mon Affairs Union (MAU), the organization has clarified that it will not participate in or support the upcoming election organised by the military junta.
The statement came after the MAU underwent a major restructuring on June 6th, forming a new 19-member body consisting of five representatives from the New Mon State Party (NMSP), five from the Mon Unity Party (MUP), and nine from various Mon civil society organizations.
According to MAU spokesperson Nai San Tin, the restructured Mon Affairs Union (MAU) will focus solely on serving the interests of the Mon ethnic group and has no intention of engaging in election-related matters.
“There has been no discussion about elections. The MAU was not formed to engage in such issues. Our focus is entirely on Mon national affairs. Elections are the domain of political parties,” he stated.
The restructured MAU includes a Nayaka group of three monks, a leadership team with three chairpersons, a general secretariat of three members, and a 13-member executive committee.
The current chairpersons are Nai Win Hla (Chair), Nai Tala Nyi (Vice-Chair 1), and Nai Mon Raja (Vice-Chair 2). The secretariat includes Nai San Tin (General Secretary), Nai Wanna Mam (Deputy Secretary 1), and Nai Aung Ma Ngay (Deputy Secretary 2).
Some members of the Mon public have pointed out that the restructured Mon Affairs Union (MAU) does not fully represent the entire Mon population, as it is based solely on three group affiliations.
Nai San Tin said, “The structure formed with three groups follows the format agreed upon by consensus at the 2022 Mon National Conference. The MAU is meant to be a coordinating body for Mon national affairs. No party or organization should influence it — it is a neutral platform to coordinate on ethnic issues.”
The former Mon Affairs Union (MAU), which was active from 2008 to 2013, was composed of four groups: the New Mon State Party (NMSP), Mon communities from border areas and Thailand, as well as domestic and overseas Mon organizations.
However, internal disputes—particularly from political parties —led to the suspension of the MAU following the 2013 Mon National Conference.
At both the Mon National Conference held in Pawlakone village and the 2022 Mon National Conference camp, efforts were made to negotiate and plan for the Mon Affairs Union (MAU) reforming under a new structure.
While NMSP Chair Nai Hongsar advocated for a more inclusive structure that would bring in Mon representatives from border areas and abroad, those groups are not currently represented in the newly reformed MAU.
