New Mon Party or A New Party formed by Some Mon?

By Siri Mon Chan

It is not surprising that a few ethnic Mon who claim to be politicians are attempting to form a new party for the so-called 2010 election in Burma. The general public began to notice these Mon leaders when they became involved in the new Working Committee for the Mon Party during NMSP-military ceasefire talks in 1994 and 1995.

Under normal circumstances it would be desirable to have public representation in a multi-party democratic system. Citizens should be able to choose to participate in a party that represents their political preferences – whether it is liberal democracy, national democracy or even social democracy. However, forming a new party solely with the intention of participating in the controversial so-called 2010 election is questionable. Are there conditions or political developments that might encourage multi-party democracy and free and fair elections in Burma? Does the 2008 Constitution upon which the 2010 election will be held guarantee ethnic and democratic rights?

I will try to put myself in the Mon politicians’ shoes. They intend to work in a parliament dominated by military representatives, and to make gradual changes using the principle of evolutional-political development. However, according to change management theory, especially with regard to political change, all parties must genuinely and sincerely intend for change to occur. The change should be based on consultation, compromise, mutual respect and dialogue. At this point in time, do we see the SPDC showing a sincere and genuine desire for change? The SPDC did not show sincerity when it drafted a new constitution, called a referendum, or held the election. Is there really any hope of creating change in a rubber-stamp parliament, dominated by military representatives, bound by this constitution?

We must decide whether this new party, formed by Mon politicians who disagree with the New Mon State Party and the Mon National Democratic Front (MNDF) on the 2010 election and the 2008 Constitution, will represent a majority of Mon people. The Mons who are attempting to form the new party argue that the 2010 election will be a golden opportunity for Mon national political development. However, a majority of Mon people still see eye to eye with the NMSP and MNDF, believing that the elections held in accordance with the 2008 Constitution and SPDC roadmap will be counter-productive in terms of national, democratic and political goals in Burma.

Recent attacks against the Kokang on the China-Burma border show the true nature of the SPDC. We should not ignore the voice of democratic and ethnic national forces who reject the proposal of the Border Guard Forces (BGF) and who also refuse to accept the SPDC’s road map and constitution.

The souls of Mon patriots who have scarified their lives for the democratic and national cause will not be happy in their after-life to see that we recognize and approve military rule without any tangible development. Our comrades who continue to suffer in the regime’s jails will also be disappointed if we accept the SPDC’s roadmap.

A political party should have a principle that it stands for. It should not be aggressive, but it should be assertive in its party’s platform. Assertiveness does not necessarily mean rigid and inflexible. An assertive party may still be flexible under appropriate circumstances. Moreover, a political party should not write policy based on personal gains.

So, it is up to the Mon community as a whole to objectively analyze the situation in Burma and to freely decide what is right and what is wrong.