The New Mon State Party (NMSP), a prominent ethnic armed group, will participate in another round of peace talks with the Burmese government beginning on the first of February in Moulmein, capital of Mon State, according to sources from the NMSP.

Nai Hong Sar Pon Khaing, NMSP spokesperson said that his party has already appointed Nai Rot Sa, the party’s vice chairman, to lead the delegation for the talks.

NMSP troops march at an parade on the 64th Mon National Day, 2011. (Photo:Azan)

“This round of talks might not be the time for us to sign a ceasefire agreement. However, this could eventually lead to an agreement if we get the points that we want from the talks,” said Nai Hong Sar Pon Khaing.

The peace mission will include seven leaders from the NMSP, as well as Mon community leaders from Mon State including Mon Buddhist monks, according to the NMSP.

The NMSP held its first peace talk with Aung Min, Burmese Railway Minister, on December 22 in Sangkhlaburi, Kanchanaburi Province, Thailand.

Even though the party has said that they expect no advantage from accepting a new ceasefire with the Burmese government, the NMSP may have no option but to agree to a truce in the meantime, as many other major ethnic armed groups, such as United Wa State Army, Karen National Union and Shan State Army-South, have signed ceasefires with Naypyidaw.

In particular, the ceasefire agreement between the KNU and the Burmese government is seen to have pressured the NMSP to have a ceasefire soon, as both the KNU and NMSP are based in areas near each other along the Thai border.

NMSP leaders say that they would still like to abide by the policy of the United Nationalities Federal Council (UNFC), which is to only agree to a nationwide ceasefire first, and then hold political talks between the Burmese government and the ethnic groups together as a group.

However, Nai Hong Sar, Secretary of the NMSP, said that the policy of UNFC was weakened after the KNU and the Chin National Front agreed to individual ceasefires with the government.

“If we ethnic groups are united, we can tell them how we want to solve our conflicts. But it is impossible now as some groups have already taken ceasefires,” said Nai Hong Sar.

The disunity among the ethnic armed groups has been taken as an opportunity by the Burmese government to create misunderstanding, distrust, and divisions among the ethnic groups, said critics.

Mon community leaders said that the NMSP should hold firm to the principle of having a nationwide ceasefire, while also demanding the release of Min Nay Win (aka Nai Yekha) and Min Myo Thwe, two prominent Mon political prisoners who remain behind bars serving life sentences.