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More than 500 Mon people and 100 New Mon State Party (NMSP) troops-in-training joined the 65th Mon Revolution Day held near the Thai-Burmese border in Palain Japan Village in the Three Pagodas Pass area on September1.

Mon National Liberation Army and the Mon people celebrated their 65th Mon Revolution Day held near the Thai-Burmese border in Palain Japan Village in the Three Pagodas Pass area on September1. (Photo:Banya Gita)

In a statement released for the event, the party announced its intention to strengthen the NMSP to prepare for a renewal of fighting should their demands for a federal union in Burma not be met.

“We need to strengthen our party and army. Through this, we can implement what we and other ethnic groups in Burma want, [which is] genuine federal union,” said the statement.

The statement also said that ethnic Mon people must support and join the Mon revolution.

Although the party signed a ceasefire with the Burmese government on February 1, 2012, the NMSP reinstated retired colonels and former members of the Mon National Liberation Army (MNLA) to reinforce the army and provide military training to new recruits.

Three retired MNLA military officers, Nai Chan Lwin, Nai Bot, and Nai Htoo, recently returned to the party, according to Mon sources.

Party leaders said the NMSP would first try to have political dialogue with the government to solve the ongoing conflict. But, if the government chooses not to the hold political dialogue currently scheduled for December, the NMSP will invalidate the ceasefire agreement.

The 65th Mon Revolution Day was commemorated in different places around Mon State, including liberated, NMSP-controlled areas, and international locations.

An ethnic Mon planning to join the event said he would pay respect to the Mon leaders and soldiers who sacrificed their lives while fighting against the Burmese government for self-determination for over fifty years.

Mon National Liberation Army and the Mon people celebrated their 65th Mon Revolution Day held near the Thai-Burmese border in Palain Japan Village in the Three Pagodas Pass area on September1. (Photo:Banya Gita)

The NMSP continues to stand by the policy of the United Nationalities Federal Council (UNFC), which demands that the Burmese government reform the 2008 constitution and hold a conference with all ethnic groups.

According to Nai Hong Sar, the party secretary, the NMSP will not form a political party unless the Burmese government amends the 2008 constitution, which grants 25 percent of parliamentary seats to the military.

NMSP leaders said they would continue to struggle until ethnic Mon people receive equal rights in Burma, and will not join the parliament as long as military representatives retain the majority of seats, opting instead to fight for ethnic rights outside of parliament by cooperating with other ethnic armed groups.
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