Myanmar News Articles: Date for Mon National Convention yet to be decided

Monday, January 20th, 2014

Khitar Non – The date for this year's Mon National Convention, which was supposed to be held in January, has been indefinitely postponed.

"Actually, it had been decided that the conference was to be held this month. But due to some difficulties, the date of the convention has been postponed,", said Dr. Min Kyi Win, the chairman of the Mon National Conference Committee.

The Mon National Conference – 2013 (Photo: IMNA)

Dr. Min Kyi Win added that because of complications involving talks for the unification of two major Mon political parties and related unresolved internal matters in these parties the event cannon be held yet. This despite the fact that 3 political parties, the All Mon Regions Democracy Party (AMDP) the Mon Democr acy Party (MDP)and the New Mon State Party (NMSP), had all previously agreed to hold the event.

"It does not mean we will not hold the Mon National Convention but we cannot tell when exactly it will be held," Dr. Min Kyi Win said.

According to Nain Hongsar Bonkhine, general secretary of the Mon Affairs Union (MAU), although the conference is now expected to be held in March, if the dispute within Mon political parties continues, the date for the convention will be delayed further.

"It is planned to take place in March. But if it cannot, it will again be postponed. The New Mon State Party (NMSP), is getting prepared. And the Mon National Liberation Army (MNLA)[NMSP's armed wing] has finished their documents," Nai Hongsar Bonkhine said.

Following the completion of the the Mon National Conference in September, 2013, a five-point statement was released. The five points were:

1. to hold a Mon National Convention in January, 2014,

2. to establish unity for the whole Mon people,

3. to form a lasting peace, 3 (a), to request that the announcement of a nationwide ceasefire be done clearly 3(b)to immediately hold a conference involving ethnic representatives like Panglong the conference

4. to amend the 2008 constitution or redraft a new constitution

5. to work together for the Mon development of the Mon region.

The 2013 Mon National Conference was held at the state hall in Moulmein the capital of Mon state and involved representatives of the NMSP, the AMDP and MDP. The conference which also involved several Mon civil society organizations lasted for 3 days. At least eight documents were submitted and discussed at the conference.