MON GROUPS URGED TO REFORM ( Kao-Wao ) January 5, 2003

MON GROUPS URGED TO REFORM

(Kao-Wao, January 5, 2003)

The Australia based Mon National Council and Mon migrant workers in Thailand urged the New Mon State Party and the Hongsawatoi Restoration Party to reconcile and consider their positions for the New Year 2003.

Open letters from the MNC with the support of Mon workers in Thailand urged the two-armed groups to work toward achieving reconciliation and promote forgiveness. It asked the NMSP to review its policy of the cease-fire agreement with the military regime and to fight corruption among the Party leaders, mismanagement and over taxation to the Mon civilians. The HRP group was also urged to fight warlordism and cooperate with other Mon groups.

Colonel Pan Nyunt, a former member of the NMSP, formed the Hongsawatoi Restoration Party in November 2001 after accusing the NMSP leadership of colluding with the Burmese military regime in signing the cease-fire agreement in 1995. The breakaway group was well supported by the Mon majority at the beginning but the support has fallen after fighting occurred between the two groups. Since splitting from the NMSP over one year ago, more than one hundred followers of the HRP, including some family members, have rejoined the NMSP in the past three months according to the source from the Thai-Burma border.

The overseas group also urged Mons worldwide to increase action for the mass movement inside Monland (Democratic Movement) and build up a peaceful international campaign for the future of Mons in pursuing national sovereignty.

Last year in May, the overseas Mon communities had urged the umbrella organization, Mon Unity League, to lobby between the New Mon State Party and the Hongsawatoi Restoration Party after the armed conflict in Mon State.