New Mon State Party

Election Stance
Rejected Border Force Plan

Facts
Founded: July 1958
Founders: Nai Shwe Kyin (alias) Nai Ba Lwin
Leader: Nai Htaw Mon
Membership: 700 soldiers
Website: http://www.nmsp.info/
Ceasefire agreement: 1995
Special Zone: Areas Mon State

Latest News



Background

The New Mon State Party (NMSP) and its armed wing the Mon National Liberation Army (MNLA) was created in 1958 from the Mon separatists group the Mon Peoples Front, and have continued to fight for the self-determination and rights of all ethnic minorities. They have controlled the eastern hills of Mon state (as well as portions of Thaninthaya Division) since 1949.

The NMSP signed a ceasefire agreement in 1995 and convinced its people to try a political compromise with the regime. In 2003, the party joined the national constitutional convention, where it proposed that the junta create a federal union of Burma. The junta turned down the proposal, and in 2007 the party sent only observers to the convention. NMSP leaders say the 2008 constitution is undemocratic, allowing for no ethnic rights.

In 2003, the party joined the national constitutional convention, where it proposed that the junta create a federal union of Burma. The junta turned down the proposal, and in 2007 the party sent only observers to the convention. NMSP leaders say the 2008 constitution is undemocratic, allowing for no ethnic rights.

Mon party leaders are reportedly split on whether or not to participate in the election. Several CEC members have resigned at different times to form a party to run in elections, namely the All Mon Region Democracy Party. Recently retired members of the New Mon State Party (NMSP) appear to be poised to from a second Mon political party to participate in the coming 2010 election.

After rejecting the junta's order to be brought under the command of the Border Guard Force in April 2010, the New Mon State Party has since been making preparations in case war breaks out with the Burmese Army. Several regional offices have been closed and an estimated 400 villagers from the NMSP controlled regions have fled to refugee camps on the Thai-Burma border.

Party Central Executive Committee
Chairman Nai Htaw Mon
Vice-chairman (1)
General Secretary











Statements




Activities
Date Location Details
31 May 2010
Five Burmese ethnic armed groups have said they will work together to achieve a ‘real Union’ in Burma where equal rights and self-determination exist for all ethnicities. It includes the Chin National Front (CNF), Karen National Union (KNU), New Mon State Party (NMSP), the Kachin Independence Organisation (KIO) and the Karenni National Progressive Party (KNPP)
18 May 2010 Three top leaders of the New Mon State Party, which has rejected the junta’s offer of bringing its troops into a junta-controlled Border Guard Force, resigned from the party
25 May 2010
Report that a group of 400 Mon refugees arrived at the Hlokhani Mon refugee camp on the Thai-Burma border fearing an outbreak of war
23 Apr 2010
The New Mon State Party (NMSP) announced at a press conference that the party has rejected both the junta's border guard force (BGF) and militia proposals. The group sent a letter to Regional Southeast Command on April 22 stating that we will not accept the militia offer.
17-18 Apr 2010
Several leaders, officials and soldiers of the New Mon State Party (NMSP) held secret farewell parties in state capital Moulmein, as they made preparations to travel to jungle bases in anticipation of an outbreak in hostilities between the Mon cease-fire group and the Burmese army
7 Apr 2010
Ye Myint met the four executive members of the NMSP at the Regional Southeast Command site in Moulmein to discuss the BGF proposal
16 Mar 2010
Five executive the New Mon State Party (NMSP) members met with Maj-Gen Thet Naing Win, the commander of the junta's Southeast Regional Command in Moulmein, the capital of Mon State, to discuss the border guard force order. After meeting the NMSP will move some departments and its stockpile of weapons to a new undisclosed base in case of an outbreak of civil war. Recently, two Burmese battalions were ordered into areas under the control of the NMSP as outlined in ceasefire agreements.
12 Mar 2010
NMSP leaders said that they have trained their soldiers to wage a guerrilla war, if they are attacked. Nai Hang Thar, the secretary of the NMSP, told The Irrawaddy, “If there is war in the future, we will not fight like we did in the past, and we will fight not only in the jungle. Our Mon people are everywhere. We will take a clandestine, guerrilla war to the enemy.
9 Mar 2010
Two Burmese government battalions have been sent into areas under the control of the New Mon State Party (NMSP) despite a longstanding agreement between both parties that Burmese troops would not enter the area while the 1995 cease-fire remains intact. NMSP is holding a meeting at their headquarters to discuss the recent developments
22 Mar 2010
At least 100 people in southern Burma’s Mon State have fled to regions controlled by the New Mon State Party (NMSP) after local army authorities attempted to force them to join a peoples’ militia, according to Mon humanitarian workers.
30 Jan 2010 Nai Htaw Mon, the chairman of the New Mon State Party (NMSP), said at a press conference after the 63rd anniversary celebrations of Mon National Day that the Burmese regime was forcing the NMSP's hand by pushing it to join a joint border guard force. He also reiterated that they could not accept the Junta's Border Guard Force plan.
16 Oct 2009 Naing Shaung, a former Battalion Commander of the New Mon State Party (NMSP), and leader of the breakaway faction, Rehmonya, met with South-East Regional Commander Lt.Gen. Thet Naing Win, to discuss the transformation and creation of a People’s Militia or BGF. According to sources, Naing Shaung recently laid down his arms to the authorities, with the aim of accepting the SPDC’s Border Guard Forces proposal. Following the defection, the NMSP, issued a statement requesting Naing Shaung to rejoin the NMSP, stating that his actions were jeopardizing the Mon national cause.
Mid Sept 2009 New Mon State Party (NMSP) Chairman Nai Htaw Mon, as well as NMSP Central Executive Committee members, Nai Hong Sar and Nai Htar Wara, have been traversing Mon State and NMSP territory since mid-September 2009 organizing Mon communities in Burma in preparation for the 2010 elections.
28 Aug 2009 The junta's Southeast Command Commander Maj. Gen. Thet Naing Win met NMSP Vice-Chairman Nai Rao Sa, Joint Secretary Nai Chan Twe and Central Executive Committee member Nai Dala Ny at Command headquarters - third such meeting
The NMSP informed the military regime that they cannot accept separation of their party and the army or disbanding their army and transforming it into the BGF without guarantee of the right to self-determination for Mon people.
18 Aug 2009 Maj-Gen Thet Naing Win, the regional commander of the junta’s Southeast Command, told Mon leaders New Mon State Party and Mon National Liberation Army to order their members not to take part in political campaigns in Thaton District
29 Jun 2009 Former New Mon State Party (NMSP) Central Committee members Nai Tin Aung, Nai Soe Myint and former Mon National Democratic Party members came together in Moulmein and decided to form a political party.
7 Jun 2009 The Burmese army’s Southeast Regional Commander Maj-Gen Thet Naing Win in Moulmein, Mon State, has suggested to the New Mon State Party (NMSP) in a meeting that it should transform its armed wing into a militia group if it doesn’t want to take up border guard duties.
6 May 2009 A member of an ethnic Mon party, the New Mon State Party (NMSP), was attacked by gunmen who fired at least six shots
18 Apr 2009 Dr. Nai Min Naung, a member of the NMSP, was shot dead. Sources said three gunmen from a rebel faction led by Nai Aung Chan, have been arrested for his murder.


Last Updated on Tuesday, 22 June 2010 14:49