Lasting Peace Urgently Needed, Says NMSP

Reported by: Min Thu Tha > News Monday, August 11th, 2014

In a statement released at the 67th Anniversary of Mon Revolution Day on Sunday [August 10th], the New Mon State Party (NMSP) announced that lasting peace is urgently needed after civil war is ceased.

The statement, written in both Mon and Burmese, highlighted that for the NMSP to establish a federal union, which grants national equality, democracy, and autonomy, it must be based on the principle of Panglong, with the spirit of the Panglong Agreement; a conference must be held with all parties and organizations that shall be involved in the union.

Further, the NMSP statement notes that although the military government has transformed to a civilian government, in fact, signs of military government still remain obvious , and although it is true that the ceasefire process takes some time, if ceasefire and peace talks take longer than expected, it can raise suspicions amongst ethnic armed groups, due to past lessons, and, as a result, will hurt the country.

In conclusion, the NMSP urged that during Burma’s transition to democracy, all ethnic peoples, along with the Mon people, NMSP, and its armed wing of the Mon National Liberation Army (MNLA), with self-awareness and duty, should cooperate in any respective sectors.

The 67th Anniversary of Mon Revolution Day was celebrated with an army parade at NMSP headquarters and its bases in Moulmein, Dawei, and Thaton Districts, as well as in Baledonphet Village, Three Pagoda Pass Township. During the ceremony, besides the [released] statement, the NMSP chairman read the list of NMSP’s fallen soldiers.

More than 1,000 Mon youths and Mon monks attended the 67th Anniversary of Mon Revolution Day celebrations at 1:00pm on August 10th, in front of the late Mon leaders’ brick tombs located at the entrance of the Win-sein Tawya Monastery in Mudon Township.

According to attendees, biographies of late Mon leaders were read, including those of Mon Poe Cho, Nai Aung Htun, Nai Shwe Kyin, Nai Nonlar, Nai Poe Sein, Nai Thein Maung, Nai Htin, Nai Tala Mon, and Nai Rotsa.

The Mon National Party (MNP) sent a letter to the NMSP on Mon Revolution Day, remembering and honoring the fact that the Mon People Front led and seized arms at the police station of Zarthapyin Village, Hpa’an Township, on the full-moon day of Wakhaung, in the year 1310 of the Mon/Burmese calendar. This day, recognized as Mon Revolution Day, of which the 67th anniversary falls on August 10th, is what Mon people should remember and carry out, not only in the country, but anywhere that Mon people resettle.