(Kao Wao: November 27, 2003)

The ruling military junta has urged New Mon State Party to attend its new national convention.

According to sources, the cease-fire party is facing a tough decision whether to attend the State sponsored national convention. If the NMSP is not taking the chance, the regime will bring other Mon groups who surrendered to the Burmese Army and those who have been fired from the Party for corruption after the cease-fire deal.

A senior leader said the NMSP has no interest in attending unless other cease-fire groups and ethnic forces are allowed freely to express their opinions. However, the Party will debate its role at the Central Committee's emergency meeting which will start on December 2, 2003 at the Headquarters in Southern Mon State.

Since General Khin Nyunt of the State Peace and Development Council was appointed Prime Minister in Burma and laid down a Road Map plan, cease-fire groups were informed to name their delegates to join in.

In exile, a Mon MP Nai Thaung Shein says that the Mon should join only after certain conditions are met by the regime: the release of imprisoned Mon National Democratic leaders and other political prisoners; and to allow all ethnic forces including non cease-fire groups to debate freely in the convention

The Mon National Democratic Front played a major role among the Mon population and won five seats in the 1990 General Election. However the MNDF was dissolved and its leaders were arrested while Nai Thaung Shein fled to Thailand.