NMSP put on SPDC Watch List

Kaowao: August 23, 2009

Sangkhlaburi -- While political relations sour between the cease-fire groups and the Burmese military in the north, the movements of New Mon State Party are coming under closer scrutiny in the south.

According to a liaison officer of the NMSP, the SPDC authorities called on village headmen in Mon State warning them of an impending attack by Democratic Alliance of Burma (DAB), All Burma Students’ Democratic Front (ABSDF), Karen National Union (KNU) and New Mon State Party. The local headmen were instructed to monitor and report on the activities of the armed groups.

Leaflets were distributed in Mon and Karen States accusing the NMSP Secretary General Nai Hongsar of planning an attack with the KNU. He was accused of drumming up support in his travels to overseas communities. In the past, the pro-SPDC’s blog Tharkinwe has played up the financial support the NMSP receives from the overseas Mon community accusing the party of stirring up unrest to a break the cease-fire deal with the regime.

To counter the junta’s claims, Chief of NMSP’s External Affairs Nai Aung Min told Kaowao and IMNA reporters that the junta’s accusations are groundless but are only made to defame the NMSP over its stance against the 2010 election and Border Guard Force.

A District Officer of the NMSP said, “The SPDC targets Nai Hongsar to create misunderstanding among the party members. Our members have come under closer scrutiny, passengers from our area face more thorough check than before at the check-points these days.”

In the north the four cease-fired groups namely, Kachin Independence Organization (KIO), United Wa State Army (UWSA), Myanmar Nationalities Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA) and the National Democratic Alliance Army (NDAA) have pledged to stand together if any of their group members are attacked by the Burmese Army.

A veteran of the NMSP Nai Ong from Maharchai said, “There are many veterans who will join the cause if the cease-fire agreement breaks. The old and the younger generation do not want to see their party treated unfairly.”