DKBA: NEVER SURRENDER TO SPDC

 

(Taing Taw, November 14, 2004)

 

Democratic Karen Buddhist Army says that it will fight against SPDC in response to a rumor that the DKBA must give up their arms to the military junta.

 

Captain Lay Winn of the DKBA at the Three Pagodas Pass said that the SPDC forced its party to draw up a list of its arms and members and give it to them, a Mon politician quoted Lay Winn as saying.

 

He says that Lay Winn had looked at the probable area of confrontation, which is about three, or four kilometers from the Thai Burma border town in preparation to fight back when its troops were pressured to give up their arms.  Karen National Union (KNU), he added, is also being deployed around the area, which is not so far from the Three Pagodas Pass.

 

Reflecting the tense nature of relationship after General Khin Nyunt and MI (Military Intelligence) were dismissed, the Burma Army commander in the Three Pagodas Pass has threatened Lay Winn and the DKBA group on a number of occasions, says another resident.

 

“Lay Winn was forced not to join a religious ceremony while the (Burma Army) Commander was there,” says the resident to Kao Wao under condition of anonymity.

 

Secretary 1, Lieutenant Generals Thein Sein and Mauna Bo, the chief commanders of the southern Burma command and other ministers, called on the cease-fire groups in Southern Burma two days ago to talk about the condition of the cease-fire agreements.

 

New Mon State Party (NMSP) liaison office in Sangkhlaburi said that its leaders including Vice-President General Htaw Mon recently met the SPDC leaders to talk about the process of the cease-fire agreement.  “The SPDC told our leaders not to change the truce process because of the ousting of Prime Minister Khin Nyunt,” Chief Liaison Officer Mr. Nai Ong Shein said.

 

Today, the leaders of Democratic Karen Buddhist Army and the SPDC met in the capital of Karen state.

CIVILIANS WELCOME IMPRISONED LEADERS

 

(By Taramon, Sangkhlaburi: June 5, 2004)

 

MNDF leaders were warmly welcomed by their supporters after the military junta released them from Moulmein prison.

 

The MNDF (Mon National Democratic Front) members from Mon and Karen States swiftly came down to the capital of Mon State to greet their leaders after they were informed about the release of political prisoners through international broadcasting radio stations, said a senior member from Karen State.

 

"I have met General Secretary Dr. Soe Lin; Vice Chairman Nai Ngwe Thein and Joint Secretary Dr. Kyi Winn were already taken to their homes by the Military Intelligence (MI)," said Nai Sar Tin from Pha- Ann Township, Karen State.  "They all are looking good and have more strength than before, because they are committed politicians," he added.

 

Dr. Min Soe Lin (aka) Nai Joon Ta-Mah rushed to Paung Township to meet a senior leader Nai Thein Maung as a first trip for the party's business on the next day after he was released from the prison.  He also plans to open a private clinic in upper plaza of Moulmein next month, Tin said.

 

According to local source, Nai Ngwe Thein also arrived at his residence on June 4 at 10 p.m local time.  Many people invited the three leaders for lunch and dinner.

 

When asked about the future plans of the MNDF, Tin said it is too early for the party to start any activities and they have to wait and see what will happen in the political climate regarding the SPDC's National Convention. 

 

Most of senior members such as the spokesperson Nai Pan Aung and Nai Sar Tin are in their 70s.

 

Two MPs Dr.Min Kyi Win, Dr. Min Soe Lin and Nai Ngwe Thein were arrested in 1998 for supporting the Committee Representing People's Parliament (CRPP) and for urging the armed New Mon State Party (NMSP) to reconsider its position on its cease-fire agreement with the military junta.  They three leaders were sentenced to seven years imprisonment with hard labour, serving their term at Moulmein Prison and were released on June 4 around noon.

 

The MNDF won 5 seats in the general election in 1990 but it was disbanded by the SPDC junta.

CEASE FIRE GROUPS MUZZLED AT THE NATIONAL CONVENTION

 

(Kao Wao: May 31, 2004)

 

SANGKHLABURI – The New Mon State Party (NMSP) is under pressure by Burma 's military junta, while its delegates are attending the state sponsored National Convention (NC) near Rangoon .

 

A senior leader of the cease-fire party said the regime is not happy with the NMSP and other cease-fire groups who demanded changes in the basic principles set out for the Constitution which the NC is supposed to approve.

 

“Our delegates and other cease-fire groups have been meeting together during the Convention. The Mon delegation proposed things they wanted discussed, the group chairman, but he said he wouldn't dare to submit the proposals to the Head of the Convention,” said a Mon politician who spoke under condition of anonymity.

 

The NMSP’s phone line has been intercepted and all the ceasefire groups have been restricted to the convention site and unable to gain access to other groups and their organizations for consultation. 

 

There is no debate at the Convention, a confidential source in Moulmein said.   At the beginning, Mon delegates were hopeful that they would be able to resolve political deadlock by putting issues on the table, but they have been stymied by the SPDC’s 5/ 96 act which bars participants from speaking freely, the source added.

 

“Unless the NLD (National League for Democracy) participates, we have no confidence in the SPDC’s National Convention,” said Nai Sorn, a youth leader of the Mon National Democratic Front.   The MNDF was disbanded by the SPDC and its leaders were arrested.

 

Mon politicians and the public are quite alert to what is going on from listening to international radio stations like the BBC, VOA and RFA.  Sorn said the public expects something new to happen after the NC meeting and that new election will be held.

 

Before the Convention opened on May 11, five other groups attending the Convention joined with the NMSP in demanding a review of the Convention principle which states that the military would have a leading role in national politics.  The other groups pushing for the change include the KIO (Kachin Independence Organization), the Shan State Army "North", the Shan State National Army, the PSLO (Palaung State Liberation Organization) and the Kayan New Land Party.

 

Meanwhile, Mon national schools have been ordered under government control in southern Ye in Mon state, a tactic which many believe is being used  to pressure the Mon to keep quiet at the NC, said the Mon leader from Moulmein.

 

For the moment, five representatives from NMSP, two from Mon Army Mergui District (MAMD) and other Mon delegates selected by the junta are attending the Convention.    

MON LEADERSHIP MEETING BOYCOTTS CONVENTION

 

(By Taramon: May 22, 2004)

 

Sangkhlaburi -- Mon leaders from overseas and Mon State met at the border and opposed the government sponsored national convention.

 

20 delegates from the Mon Unity League, EU Mon Organization, Monland Restoration Council (USA), Mon Canadian Society and Mon National Democratic Front (Liberated Area) gathered at Thai-Burma border town for a Leadership Dialogue Meeting and discussed about the present political situation from May 16-18.

The participants viewed that the SPDC’s national convention cannot solve the political crisis of Burma because it lacked delegates from the political parties.

 

“The SPDC’s 104 principles are based on a unitary state and not a federal system which we are seeking.  Mon delegations were dominated by the SPDC and were not able to communicate with outsiders,” said Nai Sunthorn, General Secretary of Mon Unity League, an umbrella organization based at the Thai-Burma border.

 

“We observed some points in the draft gave top priority to the military to seize State power whenever it deems it necessary.  According to their new constitution, which has a militarist strategy, the President of Burma must have ten years’ of military experience, which effectively blocks Ms Suu Kyi and other ethnic leaders to ever become leaders in our own country,” he added.

 

The dialogue meeting agreed to set up an International Campaign for Mon Affairs or ICMA to bring awareness of the Mon people abroad, to plan for a Mon National Fund raising and to form a Mon Women Global Network.  However, the gathering mainly focused on the SPDC’s National Convention.

 

“There is no freedom of expression and the representatives are put in a concentration camp.  The New Mon State Party delegates represent only their Party and not the entire Mon people”, said Nai Banya Dean a leader from the Monland Restoration Council (USA).

 

The meeting was organized by the MUL and financially supported by the Mon community in exile.  The delegates also set up work plans, which were formerly agreed by the Mon National Affairs Seminar held in Mon State in March 14-18.

 

According to a spokesperson from the NMSP, the Party expects the NC as a place for a political settlement and the NMSP and other 5 ceasefire groups have asked for changes to the six objectives and 104 principles presented at the convention.

MON TO JOIN IN NATIONAL CONVENTION

 

(Taramon: May 6, 2004 )

 

Sangkhlaburi – New Mon State Party voted to attend the upcoming National Convention sponsored by Burmese military regime.

 

According to a source from the NMSP, two third of its Central Committee members had decided for the party to participate at the convention which will be held very soon in May.

 

A Central Committee member said, “It was a tough political debate.  16 delegates voted in favour against 8.  We decided to attend at last because this may be an option for further dialogue and we will demand the freedom of expression and change of some principles”.

 

Public opinion varies among the Mons .  Urban-based politicians in Mon State , Burma reacted with disagreement over the NMSP’s decision to attending the NC.  “The NMSP should stands with other ethnic and democratic alliances”, said a member of the Mon National Democratic Front in Moulmein who spoke under condition of anonymity.

 

In March, politicians and community leaders from various areas in Burma and overseas discussed with the NMSP leaders how to prepare for the junta’s National Convention and Road Map.  The New Mon State Party sponsored the Mon National Affairs Seminar in eastern Ye and over 100 participants met for five days from March 14 to 18 to set up work plans including the junta’s convention.

 

After an invitation by Burma 's Prime Minister General Khin Nyunt, the NMSP in December 2003 reluctantly gave a list of 5 members delegation led by Nai Chan Toi and General Aung Nai to join the convention.  However, this Central Committee meeting, held at the Party’s Headquarters ended on May 4, debated on the critical issue and finally voted to examine the junta’s Road Map.  

Politics

 

MON PREPARE FOR National Convention

 

(Kao Wao: March 19, 2004 )

 

Delegates gathered in a strong hold area of southern Burma to discuss the future of Mon national affairs.

 

According to the source from the New Mon State Party, the Party sponsored a national affairs seminar at Wae Zin, in eastern Ye and over 100 participants from grass root organizations inside Mon State gathered for five days from March 14 to 18.

 

The Mon activists and community leaders traveled from various areas in Mon state, Karen state, Tenasserim Division and overseas and met with NMSP leaders to debate on current issues regarding how the Mon are to prepare for the junta’s National Convention and Road Map, reported a delegate.

 

The President of NMSP Nai Htin said, “Unity is top priority at the moment”.  Even though the resolution of the meeting is not publicized, the participants had agreed on the need to maintain solidarity between the Mons and to solve political crisis in Burma , said Nai Zehan from Canada who joined the gathering.

 

The NMSP’s liaison office at the Thai-Burma reported that the seminar’s objective was to amend Mon State Constitution, which was drafted by leaders of NMSP, Mon Unity League (MUL) and Mon National Democratic Front (MNDF) last year.

 

Recently, senior leaders of NMSP met with leaders of MNDF, MUL and other ethnic political parties to decide on how the party should proceed at the National Convention sponsored by the ruling military junta.

 

The Mon Unity League has advised the New Mon State Party not to be led astray regarding the high profile National Convention in Rangoon, the important thing however is that the Mon voice be heard strongly, that the Mon are for democracy and for self determination and do not seek confrontation with the junta.

 

“The NMSP's leadership is more flexible now and we hope it will not go it alone to join the junta’s Convention.  The party should closely engage and cooperate with the democratic alliance and other ethnic parties,” says General Secretary of MUL Sunthorn Sripanngern.

 

The NMSP’s emergency meeting in December 2003 named a delegation comprised of Nai Chan Toi, General Aung Nai, Colonel Lawee Ong, Nai Tala Nyeh and Nai Tin Hla to join the state sponsored convention.

 

Last month, NMSP’s Vice President General Htow Mon and Nai Rotsa met with the SPDC’s Prime Minister General Khin Nyunt in Rangoon where the SPDC’s media reported that the Party endorsed the junta’s Road Map and National Convention.  Following this news, its supporters and alliance criticized the Party for supporting the National Convention.

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