MON LEADER SHOT DEAD BY SPLINTER GROUP

(By Kun Yekha, October 28, 2002)

A senior leader of the New Mon State Party and five Mons were shot dead by the splinter group while sleeping near the headquarters.

Last night at about 12:00, the New Mon State Party leader Nai Min Htut was ambushed by the Hongsarwatoi Restoration Party (HRP) and died at spot with other three members and two civilian near the Headquarters.  The three NMSP members were Nai Tun Tun, 70, Nai Myan Aung, 42, and Nai Yuan Aung, 21. The group had just returned from a conference held in Tavoy District in preparation for the party’s conference.

Nai Min Htut was ambushed by the HRP armed group led by Nai Khin Maung at Pnang Bane village check-point near Nyisar refugee camp in the NMSP control area. A person in charge of the checkpoint, two NMSP soldiers and two civilians were killed while sleeping for a night rest.

The Honsawatoi Restoration Party (HRP) is led by Col Pan Nyunt, a former member of the NMSP who formed the group last year after accusing the NMSP leadership of colluding with the regime after signing a cease-fire agreement in June 1995. On June 24, 2002, HRP group lead by Nai Khin Maung kidnapped the General Secretary of the NMSP Nai Rot Sa.

Nai Min Htut, 61 years old, is a Central Executive Committee member and Head of the Administration Department.  The well respected intellectual Mon leader joined the armed movement from Mudone Village, Chaung Zone Island of Mon State in early 1970’s and holds several positions including the Battalion Commander and Head of District.