Friday, November 25, 2011

New Mon State Party will meet to discuss peace talks

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Friday, 25 November 2011 15:27 Kun Chan

Chiang Mai (Mizzima) – How to deal with the state government’s peace offer and reorganize the New Mon State Party (NMSP) central committee are two big issues to be taken up at the eighth party conference on December 15.

Nai Han Thar Paing Khine, a NMSP spokesperson, told Mizzima: “We didn’t make any decision when we met with their peace delegates. Before the conference, we will discuss the issues.”

The party conference, usually held every three years, will take place at NMSP headquarters in the Ye Chaung Phya area and include more than 100 party representatives from three districts.

Officials at the Seventh Congress of the New Mon State Party. Photo: Kaowao

The Mon State government and the NMSP have held direct talks, and the party formed a peace committee that includes community leaders.

On November 13 and 14, five members of the Mon State government’s peace delegation led by Kawpaline village Abbot Bhaddanta Ashin Kaytu Marlar of Kyaikmayaw Township in Mon State discussed peace for two days with the NMSP central executive committee led by chairman Nai Htaw Mon.

The talks included a halt to fighting, opening liaison offices and cooperation in undertaking development projects in the state. They two sides also agreed to inform the other side in advance if one side wants to enter the other’s control areas with weapons

On October 6, state government delegates led by Mon State Minister for Security and Border Affairs Colonel Htay Myint Aung and NMSP delegates led Nai Tala Nyi conducted peace talks in the compound of government Infantry Unit No. 61 in Ye Township. Observers called the meeting a good start.

In other peace negotiations with ethnic groups, on November 19 and 20, the Rail Transportation Minister separately met with most of the United Nationalities Federal Council’s (UNFC) full members in Mae Sai, Thailand. The meeting did not include the NMSP. The minister met with the Karenni National Progressive Party (KNPP), the Karen Nation Union [KNU], the Chin National Front (CNF) and Kachin Independence Organization (KIO).

Moreover, the central government’s peace delegation led by Thein Zaw, the chairman of the Lower House’s National Race Affairs and Internal Peace-making Committee, and Aung Thaung, the chairman of the Lower House's banking and financial development sub-committee, met with the Shan State Army-North, another member group of the UNFC, on October 29 in Naypyitaw.

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