NMSP VOICE SOFT ON RESISTANCE DAY
(Kao Wao, August 12, 2003)

The New Mon Stated Party celebrated the 56th anniversary of Mon Resistance
Day in different locations including at its Headquarters and Districts offices in the liberated area in Monland.

The NMSP demanded that the Rangoon government initiate a dialogue toward a
political settlement, according to the Party’s statement issued on August 12.

The NMSP has continually insisted upon a political dialogue to solve the political crisis in Burma and is against violence and terrorists’ acts in solving political problems. The Party is feeling increasing pressure because of the suffering of their people. But it urges the Mon people to continue in the struggle for freedom.

The President of New Mon State Party, Nai Htin also issued a commentary statement on the significance of armed resistance day in recognition of the struggles for self-determination and a federal union in Burma.

The Mon armed struggle has continuously fought against the Burman central
governments for over five decades, but decided in 1995, along with pressure
by the Thai government, to sign a cease-fire agreement hoping to resolve
political problems and to end the conflict with the junta.

Some say that the “NMSP’s statement is nothing but rhetoric, its voice has grown weak among the people who are not happy with their work”, as argued by
a former member of NMSP who now lives in Thailand.

The Mon Resistance Day commemorates the beginning of the armed struggle against the Burmese government in 1948. When the British granted independence to Burma, Mon political leaders planned to negotiate peacefully with the Burman AFPFL leaders for their political, cultural, and nationality rights. When their demands were flatly rejected some Mon leaders were assassinated and imprisoned, overnight the Mons transformed from a non-violent movement to an arms struggle against the Burmans.

To enforce control over the Mon population, over 100 Mon villages were burnt
down during that time; this is the way the Burmese military controls conflict or dissent, by killing innocent people and dehumanizing their culture. This triggered the resistance movement, which began in 1948 when a group of young Mon patriots seized arms from the police station at Htow Plang (Zar Tha Pyin) village near Moulmein. Burmese repressive measures have continued to the present day and have compelled some Mon to continue in their armed struggle against repression.