MEDIA RELEASE

5^th New Mon State Party Congress Held

Incresed its Central Executive Committee Members and War Committee

February 2, 2003 Head Quarter, Ye, Mon State

The 5^th party’s congress of the New Mon State Party [NMSP] helds on 16^th January and finished on 2^nd February at the Head Quarter of the party.

The congress has inplemented that the party acknowledges the role of successful leaders and their historical leadership while it also seriously takes into account to the unity of the party.

The party has not inplemented new charter to the existing ‘Fundamental Political Policy and Constitution’ but it has developed a few points in pursue to meet current political situations.

The congress has elected nine Central Executive Committee Members led by President Nai Shwe Kyin and Vice-Presedent Nai Htin as well as seven Central War Committee Members.

‘President is age 93 and Vice President is age 82. So they can transfer the tasks to our generation for a future leadership role. This is why the party has extended two more new members in the CEC team’ Nai Shwe Thein, a new elected member of CEC said.

The party does not sastify in regards current political development after cease-fire agreement process as there is no clear-cut solution. The party therefore will cooperate with other organizations that hold similar principles as well as democratic forces for a future change.

Mr Thein reinforced that ‘we could not remain silence like this after seven years cease-fire agreement process and so we have to speed up a quickly process for solution’. Mr Thein holds a new position as a General Director of Administration Department of the Party.

The party is seriously disappointed about the occupation of land with claming for national security that owned by local Mon people. There may be a potential doubt [clash] between two sides [NMSP & SPDC] in which the government has built new military camps that are located very close to the exiting party’s controled area. The party here therefore has determined to be a body for the public portection in regards human rights abuse and land confiscication.

Resolutions:

The congress has implemented five resolutions; promote the unity of the Mon people, restore a be united multi-nationalities, a nation-wide cease-fire process and a tripartite dialogue for political solution, enhance a multi-party democartic system and build a [true] Federal Union [of Burma].

The congress has also resoluted to foster the role of civil society and undertake social welfare works for general public in pursue of ganing public support to the party.

The party will undertake to gain its prime aim of building a sovereignty of ‘New Mon State’ as it was the fundamental political aim of the party.

To achieve this goal, It will indeed holds a political dialogue as well as other means of struggling for victory with the support of Mon people.

Media contact

Nai Aye Mon

Incharge Officer for Information [Liaison Office]

New Mon State Party

Tel (66-34) 595 149