An interview with Nai Banyar Lal, Deputy Leader-1 about the statement by the political and military leading group of New Mon State Party (Anti-dictatorship).
On the morning of 14 February, the New Mon State Party (Anti- dictatorship) announced that it will fight against the military council to prevent the violence, build a federal union with full national equality and self-determination, which the ethnic peoples long for.
According to the agreements enshrined in the NCA (Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement), the New Mon State Party (NMSP) has made consistent efforts to find political solutions to political problems through all means. The NMSP had held a series of formal and informal meetings with the military council, but did not produce any desired results at all.
At its 11th conference, the NMSP decided to maintain the ceasefire with the military council.
The members who did not accept this resolution formed the political and military leading group of the New Mon State Party (Anti-dictatorship). They will attack the military council in cooperation with ethnic revolutionary organizations that are fighting against the military council and the forces of the Spring Revolution.
The Independent Mon News Agency (IMNA) conducted an interview with Nai Banyar Lal, Deputy Leader-1 about the statement by the political and military leading group of the New Mon State Party (Anti-dictatorship).
Q: Why did you choose the path of breaking away from the New Mon State Party and fight against the military council?
A: After the military takeover in 2021, we discussed with the military council with great patience, for the sake of the Mon people, all the ethnic people and the construction of the federal union that we want. We held formal talks with the military council three times. We also held informal talks with the military council several times. Only national rights we want and the principles of federalism were put on record by the military council. And not only are we not getting the rights we want, but we had to follow them in the way they want. At this crucial juncture, we urged the party to stop both political dialogues and bilateral talks with the military council. However, the party decided to stop political dialogues and continue bilateral talks. As we objected to the decision, party leaders and commanders, who had the same objectives and positions for the revolution against the junta, planned this kind of work by leading our own way.
Q: If we turn to bilateral talks, can we achieve the peace many people want?
A: Peace can be achieved if the whole country is involved only through the political dialogue.
As for bilateral talks, there are no more political discussions. I think peace will not be achieved at all as they are going to maintain friendship and ceasefire and deal with each other.
Q: As the political and military leading organization of the New Mon State Party (anti-dictatorship), how do you cooperate with the revolutionary groups that are fighting the military council in the Mon region?
A: The main point is we alone are unable to fight the military dictator. We will affiliate with the revolutionary forces close to us, ethnic revolutionary organizations and all the revolutionary organizations in the country. In doing so, we have decided to carry out cooperation either politically or militarily.
Q: Because of this statement, there is a possibility that fighting in the Mon state will intensify. So, what have you prepared for the security and defense of the Mon people?
A: When we conduct military operations, there will be some impacts on the Mon people and the Mon regions. In this regard, we shall mainly take security measures for our region if fighting occurs. If fighting intensifies, we plan to move the people to other safe areas.
Q: What would you like to say to the Mon youth to join the revolution?
A: Cooperation of the younger generation is quite important to strengthen the revolutionary organization. The policy adopted for young people stipulates that when they turn 18, they must attend military training in the Mon National Liberation Army. On top of that, it is crucial for them to undergo training and join this revolutionary force.
Q: Is there anything you would like to add about fighting against the military council?
A: I would like to inform the Mon people that Myanmar people from home and abroad are making revolution against the military council at present. They have faced an almost complete lack of public support. To date since Independence, the Myanmar people at home and abroad have long been making revolution against the junta by various means. The military council is also facing difficulties on all fronts. The junta’s strength is also gradually decreasing. Junta soldiers are suffering from low morale.
Therefore, now is the best time to crush the military council in order to end the military dictatorship. At this crucial juncture, we would like to urge monks, patriots and the people in various organizations at home and abroad, especially the youth, to support the anti-dictatorship force of the New Mon State Party. It would be good if the public could provide support in terms of manpower. We would like to appeal to the public to support us both materially and mentally if they are unable to provide manpower due to various reasons.
Sent by IMNA