The New Mon State Party (NMSP) has withdrawn from the Peace Process Steering Group (PPST), which is composed of ethnic armed groups that signed the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement (NCA).
The NMSP had submitted its resignation in late April and the matter will be discussed at the next meeting, said Col. Khun Okka, patron of the Pa-O National Liberation Organisation (PNLO).
“It is true that they have submitted their resignation letter. We will discuss it with everyone. We want to know the reasons for their resignation. We will make a decision about it at the next meeting. But participating in the PPST also means that we respect each group’s right to self-determination. So we must also respect the decision of this group. However, we must take the opportunity to cooperate with the majority as much as possible,” he said.
Following the resignation of Gen. Yward Serk as interim head of the PPST, which is composed of NCA signatories, Nai Aung Min, vice chairman of the New Mon State Party, continued to take charge of PPST.
IMNA reached out to the PPST for comment on the Mon Party’s resignation letter, but has not received a response. The PPST also has not issued any statement on the matter.
Colonel Khun Okka further said that the NMSP would not completely withdraw from the PPST, but would continue to maintain a certain level of cooperation.
“I don’t know what is going on behind the scenes with them. But they are not going to completely withdraw, which can be taken as a plus sign. We have three plus sings that we call PPST Plus 3. They are CNF, KNU, and RCSS. Of them, RCSS has been the most cooperative. They are the most deserving to participate in PPST. For example, RCSS is in our foreign affairs committee. When we invite ASEAN representatives, RCSS representatives are also there. They also receive all the food provided by international organisations. Only one thing is that they are not very involved in the activities of our executive committee. So they are very cooperative,” he explained.
The PPST includes the Restoration Council of Shan State/Shan State Army (RCSS/SSA), Karen National Union (KNU), Arakan Liberation Party (ALP), Karen National Union/Karen National Liberation Army – Peace Council (KNU/KNLA- PC), Democratic Karen Benevolent Army (DKBA), Pa-O National Liberation Organisation (PNLO), Chin National Front (CNF), All Burma Students’ Democratic Front (ABSDF), New Mon State Party (NMSP), and Lahu Democratic Union (LDU).
After the 1 February 2021 military coup, RCSS, KNU, and CNF withdrew from the PPST.
The New Mon State Party signed the NCA on 13 February 2018.
Sent by IMNA.
