Exclusive Interview with
NMSP General-Secretary, Nai Hong Sar
New Mon State Party (NMSP)
General Secretary, Nai Hong Sar
was interviewed by Loa Htaw, Independent Mon News
Agency (IMNA), in Sangkhlaburi on what Burmese
government accused on their members as criminals. But he refused the accusation
and continues talking about what NMSP and other cease-fire groups’ request to
military government, SPDC, in the recent National Convention. Here in the full
transcript of the interview.
Q: Now what is the situation of 8 NMSP members who were
arrested on June 29, on the day of 9th anniversary of NMSP cease-fire with
regime SPDC?
A: Now 8 members are in the jail but not in the prison
yet. Some of them are also sick at the moment.
Q: Why these soldiers are not release yet?
A: It is because they (the regime’s authorities)
accused against our members as criminals for threatening the people by guns in
collecting tax money. But for us it is between our people and us. We have
worked for our people. So, it is normal that we ask the supports from our
people.
Q: Before eight soldiers went to collect tax money, we
heard that NMSP have informed Burmese (government) authorities about that, so
why did they still arrest these soldiers?
A: We have been collecting (tax) money since 1995 when we had cease-fire with
Burmese government until this year. We have thousands of soldiers who are
working for our people. Each year we spend a lot of money for those soldiers to
eat, to drink, and for their uniforms and it is also spent for our party’s
activities. But we received only a little economic concessions from government
to involve in businesses. So, in order to accommodate for our soldiers (party
members) and for our movement, we have to ask supports from our people. Our
people also know their responsibilities to help us as they can for our nations
or movement. We are not forcing our people to get money.
Q: Although NMSP has informed authorities why eight
soldiers were arrested by authorities?
A: As political situation today, we can say that
government wants to force us as they like. May be they just wanted to arrest
because they don’t like our stance with other cease-fire groups in the National
Convention. Or may be for other reasons. We have been
asking for supporting money from our people since we had cease-fire with
government in 1995 and until now. But, this year, although we have informed
them, our soldiers were still arrested.
Q: Do you mean because NMSP acted very hard position in
the National Convention?
A: May be. Because in the National Convention we acted
to the government on what our party have decided. At the same time, we
discussed and acted together with other cease-fire groups. On that case, we
think government doesn’t like on us and other cease-fire groups.
Q: So, what NMSP and other cease-fire groups have
requested to government in the National Convention?
A: In the NC, we especially requested based on
federalism and democracy.
Q: Do you think government will response positively to
what your party and other cease-fire groups have requested?
A: No, we already know that they won’t be response
positively for us because they have refused seven points of our requests what
is the most important for ethnic people. They said that those points are
against their objectives, which is road map to democracy. So, they have refused
diplomatically.
Q: What are the most important of seven points that
cease-fire groups have requested?
A: I can’t remember all but the most important is every
ethnic state should have its own law, security, concurrent power and foreign
relationship.
Q: How about for education, what your party have
requested for education?
A: We have requested every ethnic people must have
rights to maintain and use their own language and culture.
Q: Although your party have requested those kinds of
rights but what we heard at the moment is Burmese military government destroyed
A: During National Convention, one of government authorities
called the leader of
Q: During NC although NMSP leaders have negotiated with
government about MNS but after NC we heard that authorities in the region have
destroyed MNS signboards and change to as government school. So what is your
opinion?
A: We have asked this news to our group but still not
receive yet, so we cannot confirm on this story.
Q: Let’s me focus on eight of NMSP members again. These
members have been arrested over one month and they still do not release yet so
how NMSP will negotiate to the government to release the soldiers?
A: On the government side they have accused our soldiers
as criminals in collecting tax money. On this case, if they want to blame, just
blame the leaders. They should not blame to our soldiers. We also have asked
the regime’s Prime Minister, Lt. Gen. Kyin Nyunt, for
the unconditional release of our soldiers. But currently the Prime Minister is
not in the country. So, we still have to wait.
Q: When will eight soldiers release and do you think
NMSP can negotiate to the government to release?
A: We can’t say when they will be released. But we
think we can negotiate with government to release.
Q: If NMSP can’t negotiate how your party will struggle
to the government?
A: It will get more tensions between regime and us.
Q: What do you mean more tensions? Do you mean that it
will affect cease-fire agreement with regime?
A: At the moment, we can’t say exactly. But if they
don’t respect on cease-fire agreement, we have to concern more.
Q: If it will get tense, how condition it will be?
A: We can’t say before it happens.
Q: What do you want to say on 8 NMSP members arrested?
A: These soldiers were
working for implementing the orders from the NMSP Headquarters. Our members,
they work for the people, they ask help from their people, so,
we believe ‘It is normal. It is not a crime’. For Mon people, they need to
serve the nation anyway. Serve with tax money,
supplies and basically information are normal activities for them. If the
regime stops us in collecting tax money, it means that they destroy our
revolution.
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