Talks between NSMP and SPDC

DVB (August 19,2003)

A New Mon State Party (NMSP) delegation led by NMSP Chairman Nai Htin departed for Rangoon to hold talks with SPDC (State Peace and Development Council) Secretary-1 Gen Khin Nyunt in Rangoon on 14 August.

In the meetings, the NMSP will present the release of two of its members, Nai Yetkha and Nai Chin Kaung alias Nai Myo Win, who were detained on 17 July for allegedly planning to plant bombs.

NMSP spokesperson, Nai Ba Nyar Mon, did not want to comment prior the meeting but said the SPDC's allegations were untrue since the NMSP is totally against terrorism.

Nai Ba Nyar Mon told DVB that NMSP discovered the arrest only when they saw the SPDC newspaper reports on the press conference.

“We tend to disbelieve that allegation because Nai Yetkha only works for the organization,” said Nai Ba Nyar Mon. “Similarly, Nai Chin Kaung is almost always engaged in headquarter activities. If he does anything unusual, we would definitely know.”

So far, NMSP had no knowledge of any act and they only found out the arrest after they read the SPDC newspaper in a press conference, according to Nai Ba Nyar Mon.

Another topic included in the meeting was the DKBA members' intrusion into NMSP territory.

According to Nai Ba Nyar Mon, the DKBA 96th Battalion is stationed outside the NMSP military zone but inside the KNU region currently.

Since it is very close to the NMSP military zone, they have the right to collect taxes in their own region.

“So far, it has not affected our relations but NMSP is carefully monitoring the situation. We have already reported to the relevant Burmese authorities,” said Nai Ba Nyar Mon.

Meanwhile, SPDC Secretary-1 Gen Khin Nyunt has planned a meeting with the ceasefire groups including the UWSA (United Wa State Army) Wa armed group, KIO (Kachin Independence Organization), and the SSA (Shan State Army).

Arrested NMSP members
- Nai Yetkha (one of the party organizers for Moulmein)
- Nai Chin Kaung (formerly from the battalion of garrison engineers)