Source: Irrawaddy

January 26, 2012: The New Mon State Party (NMSP), an ethnic armed group, said it will hold another round of peace talks with the Burmese government on the first of February in the Mon State capital Moulmein.

Speaking to The Irrawaddy on Thursday, NMSP spokesperson Nai Hong Sar Pon Khaing said that his party has already appointed the vice chairman of the party, Nai Rot Sa, to lead the peace mission for the talks.

“These talks may not result in a ceasefire agreement, but if we can agree on a number of points, they could create the preconditions for one,” said Nai Hong Sar Pon Khaing.

The peace mission will include seven leaders from the NMSP and Mon community leaders, including Buddhist monks, the group said.

The NMSP held its first peace talks with Railways Minister Aung Min on Dec. 22 in the Thai border town of Sangkhlaburi.

Although the group sees no advantage in reaching a ceasefire agreement, it feels that it has no option but to pursue peace talks now that other major ethnic armed groups such as the United Wa State Army, the Shan State Army-South and the Karen National Union (KNU) have all signed ceasefire deals with Naypyidaw.

The KNU's ceasefire agreement has especially increased pressure on the NMSP, because the two groups are based near each other.

The NMSP leaders said they wanted to follow the policy of the United Nationalities Federal Council (UNFC), which is to have a nationwide ceasefire first followed by political talks attended by all of its members.

However, NMSP Secretary-General Nai Hang Thar said that the UNFC's policy was  weakened by the decision of the KNU and the Chin National Front to sign ceasefire agreements.

“If we were united, we could tell them how we want to solve our ethnic conflicts. But it is impossible now, as they have already taken the ceasefire,” said Nai Hang Thar.

Mon community leaders say the NMSP should hold firmly to its demand for  a nationwide ceasefire and also push for the release of two Mon political prisoners, Min Nay Win (aka Nai Yekha) and Min Myo Thwe, who are serving life sentences in prison.