An interview with head of MSFC defense department Nai Din Pala Hongsar on the Mon State Revolutionary Force’s response to the formation of people’s security teams by the military council and its military preparations in southern Myanmar.
Three Mon resistance forces, including the Mon State Federal Council’s (MSFC) Defense Department, issued a joint statement warning people not to participate or be involved in any way with the people’s security and anti-terrorism teams formed by the military council.
Than Lwin Times conducted this interview with Nai Din Pala Hongsar, head of the MSFC Defense Department, to learn more about the reasons for the three Mon resistance groups’ warning against the military junta’s anti-terrorism teams, the offensive capabilities and declining morale of the junta troops, preparations by the military in Mon State and in the southern part of the country, and the Mon resistance forces’ response to these developments.
Q: What are the reasons for warning the people about the military council’s people’s security and anti-terrorism teams, which plans to use civilian men aged 35 to 65 as security guards?
A: To talk about the reasons for our warning and our stance, I’d like to start with the enforcement of the conscription law. The conscription law hasn’t brought in the desired number of recruits. This is because their troop strength is decreasing day by day. There are casualties in battles, surrenders to the resistance forces, injuries and desertions. So their troop strength is decreasing. And it’s in the nature of their defence strategy that without reinforcements, they have no one to supply them with weapons and rations. If there is no one to supply ammunition, the troops remaining at the front won’t be able to hold out in the long term. They have no reserve forces left. They can’t help. That is why they have deployed newly recruited young people.
As these young recruits are almost exhausted, they choose people between the ages of 35 and 65. This is where many problems arise. The main problem is that these recruits receive one month of military training. Although they say it’s only about territorial security, they aren’t a group that does what it says. First they talk about security, but later they make them do logistical tasks. After they have done the logistics, they’re finally sent to the frontlines. That is, they indirectly recruit soldiers. They talk about their “people’s militia strategy” and send them to the frontlines. First guard duty, then to the frontlines. That is our point of view.
Moreover, the 35- to 65-year-olds in Mon State are the heads of household. If they’re called up, firstly they have to leave behind their work. It’s unfavorable to give up their livelihood. Also, joining the army could mean separation from the family and even death. These aren’t people who have undergone proper military training. They’ll probably be among the first casualties at the frontlines. It would destroy their economic and social life. It would mean supporting the military junta’s last attempt at survival, so it’s necessary not to help them. We issued this warning to prevent people from participating in the junta’s actions, with the goal of hastening the downfall of the terrorist military council.
Q: To what extent do you think the junta’s forces have been weakened in terms of strength, morale, fighting ability and leadership to the point where they need to take such measures?
A: The morale of the junta troops has dropped significantly. There have been mass surrenders, group escapes to neighboring countries and large-scale withdrawals. Even when reinforcements are sent, they often don’t arrive. Finally, the national-level Operation Aung Zeya has also failed. Although they have superior weapons and aircraft, they aren’t successful. This shows how low their morale has fallen. Morale is what matters in warfare. On the resistance side, morale is much higher, even though they have far fewer weapons.
The junta soldiers have modern weapons. But without the will to fight, these weapons are useless. Without motivation, nothing is useful. Faced with the constant pressure exerted by the people day and night, they have lost the will to fight. They have only managed to recapture a small part of what the resistance forces have taken. They’re losing in northern Shan State. So are they in Arakan and Kachin. This shows a lack of fighting ability. If the top generals were competent, their troops would be more likely to win. But now the military leadership seems to be in chaos.
If we look at the rumors of regional commanders being arrested, position changes and rumors of internal coups, they no longer have reinforcements willing to fight to the death for them. This indicates a lack of competence in their leadership. It’s in decline. To fight a war, you need competence. First, you need strong weapons. You need military strength. You need competent leaders and good military leadership. They only have weapons, everything else is in decline. So they’re forming these people’s security teams to supplement their logistics and their reserve forces and to support their defense strategy. So we can assume that their current situation is pretty dire.
Q: The military junta is currently facing a series of military defeats in the eastern, northern and western regions of the country. How is the junta preparing militarily in the southern region – Mon – to prevent a similar situation?
A: Since they’re losing in other regions, they’re making extensive preparations in Mon State. This includes trying to salvage the situation in Mon State. In particular, they have plans to secure the Dawei deep-sea port. As they’re unable to conduct border trade in other areas, they’re also trying to regain control in Ye, Mawlamyine and Tanintharyi to supplement border trade.
It looks like they’re considering using the naval division for border trade. For this reason, they have increased their forces in Mon State. They’re also making preparations, especially with military forces. We have heard that even if they lose in other regions, they want to prepare a defense strategy in Mon State.
Q: How are the Mon resistance forces preparing to counter the junta’s military activities and preparations?
A: To face this situation, the Mon resistance forces must carry out joint military operations based on the circumstances. There is no other choice now. There are various groups involved in the Mon revolution.
The Mon resistance groups need a united alliance to fight the enemy together. The Mon resistance groups must strategically resist and attack the enemy, and above all, avoid fighting separately. To achieve this, the existing Mon organizations must work as one. We’re trying to put aside our differences and work together. We believe that there will be military cooperation within the Mon resistance groups in the near future. We believe that the Mon resistance groups are working towards this goal.
Q: What is the MSFC Defense Department currently doing in terms of military, political and diplomatic efforts? Do you have a message or information you’d like to share with the public?
A: The main task of the MSFC is to implement the military objectives of removing and clearing the junta forces in Mon State and the surrounding areas as soon as possible. Under the MSFC, there is a force called MSRF. We’re trying to make our MSRF troops an effective and solid resistance force. We’re training commandos, intelligence personnel and weapons manufacturers. We also prepare for combat and complete other necessary military training.
As for our military allies, we’re forming military alliances as it’s difficult to fight alone. We’re working to form a military alliance among the Mon resistance forces. This is our top priority. Beyond the Mon people, we’re trying to cooperate militarily with the PDFs (People’s Defense Forces) of the National Unity Government (NUG) and other EAOs (Ethnic Armed Organizations) operating in Mon State.
The message we want to convey to the people is that the days of the military council are numbered; it’s already in decline. The military council has now become a paper tiger. Theoretically, it’s close to falling. But, in reality, it’s still a tiger. It can still bite people and cause them harm. But since it won’t be long before they fall, I’d like to request the people to hold on. Try your best to support the revolution. Only when the terrorist military junta falls can we live in peace. A country ruled by dictators often faces various problems.
Finally, I’d like to say to our friends and colleagues sitting (idle) in Mawlamyine that you have been waiting for a long time and it’s time to resist. They know who we’re referring to. We urge them to quickly join us and work together to overthrow the military junta as soon as possible.
Sent from Than Lwin Times.
