Politics

MUL WARY OF NMSP'S INVITE TO THE NATIONAL CONVENTION

(Kao Wao, Bangkok: December 14, 2003)

The Mon Unity League has advised the senior leaders of New Mon State Party not to be led astray regarding the high profile National Convention in Rangoon sponsored by ruling military junta.

"The NMSP will not become a tool for the SPDC in its strategy in dividing the opposition forces participating in the National Convention process. It must closely engage and cooperate with the NLD and ethnic parties," says Sunthorn Sripanngern to the NMSP leaders in his statement letter to the Executive Committee.

"It is essential to inform and build unity among the opposition forces ensuring that leaders have confidence in dealing with this process", he added in the letter in the Mon language.

"The Party must withdraw its participation from the National Convention when the principles of the assembly are not respected and not leading toward a tripartite dialogue. The tripartite dialogue must meet the standards and principles mandated by the National League for Democracy which paves the way toward finding a political solution", Mr. Sripanngern stated.

The MUL warns that the SPDC is playing a game to win over the opposition parties who wish to emerge as the legitimate government after the Convention. The NMSP is strongly requested not to receive any intensive package for a deal during the assembly, which obviously will have several strings attached. The SPDC has total responsibility for its wrong doing in the country.

The General Secretary of the MUL advised senior leaders of the NMSP to remain vigilant and to prepare for a withdrawal from the assembly when the process fails to accommodate Burma's national interests. He said the National Convention is the first step toward breaking a political deadlock in the country in which details are evaluated and considered by all.

The NMSP's emergency meeting in early December named a delegation comprised of Nai Chan Toi, General Aung Nai, Colonel Lawee Ong, Nai Tala Nyeh and Nai Tin Hla to join the state sponsored convention.

The MUL is the third political force in the Mon community and works by consensus among the Mon population in Thailand and Burma. The umbrella organization, based at the Thai Burma border, was formed in 1995, the year when the cease-fire agreement between New Mon State Party and the Burmese military government was signed.