CEASE-FIRE POLICY UNCHANGED AFTER DEATH OF MON LEADER
(Kao-Wao, March 21, 2003)

According to sources, New Mon State Party will not change its cease-fire policy any time soon with the Burmese military regime despite opposition to it after the death of its leader.

In response to rumors that NMSP was to raise concerns about the cease-fire with the junta, a senior officer of the NMSP said the relationship with the regime would continue as before.

Local Mon media reported that Secretary General of the NMSP, Nai Rot Sa, will carry on with tasks inside the country supervised by the Vice-Chairman Nai Htin and Deputy Secretary General Nai Hongsa will manage Mon affairs at Headquarters.

There are no indications the death of the 91-year-old President Kyin would prompt members to reconsider changes to the cease-fire agreement between the party and the Burmese military regime. No forthcoming explanations on changes or if it would improve the current situation in which the Mon is being systematically oppressed by the junta were discussed.

Many have frustrated with the cease-fire agreement between the NMSP and the Burmese regime in June 1995 as human rights abuses such as forced labor, rape, torture and extra judicial killing by the State Peace and Development Council regime continue in the Mon areas.

At the funeral service of the President, Nai Shwe Kyin in Moulmein, a former NMSP leader Nai Pan Tha spoke to an informal gathering about possible candidates for the leadership role. He recommended Nai Tun Thein, the Chairman of Mon National Democratic Front (MNDF), a prominent and respected leader in Mon society who could help unite groups toward a common goal. Nai Tun Thein and other MNDF key members from Rangoon paid tribute to the founder of the New Mon State Party.

Only a few key members of the New Mon State Party were in agreement with Nai Pan Tha’s suggestion, according to Nai Sunthorn, Secretary General of the Mon Unity League, an umbrella organization of the Mon people.

Before he passed away, Nai Shwe Kyin, had attempted to tackle further splintering from the party arguing that Mon unity should be everyone’s strategic concern to achieve victory for the Mon national cause, as expressed in his message to the Party’s fifth congress in February.

The NMSP was founded by Nai Shwe Kyin in July 1958 when the Mon Peoples Front (MPF) surrendered to the U Nu’s Parliamentary government claiming to the Mon supporters that it was an exchange of arms for democracy. The Party controls some areas in Mon, Karen and Tenasserim territories. The founder and long time President Nai Shwe Kyin passed away at the capital of Mon State on March 7, 2003.