PRESIDENT OF NEW MON STATE PARTY PASSED AWAY

(Kao-Wao, March 7, 2003)

A well-known Mon national leader Nai Shwe Kyin passed away in Mon State, Burma.

According to the source form New Mon State Party, the president and founder of NMSP passed away peacefully at his Myaing TharYar resident, Moulmein, capital of Mon State at 1:30 AM local time, March 7, 2003.  He is 91.

Nai Shwe Kyin (aka) Nai Ba Lwin, President of the New Mon State Party was born at Kawhnat, near Moulmein on March 1, 1913.  He studied at Methodist mission school and graduated from Rangoon University before joining the British Navy and attained the rank of instructor.

In 1947, the young patriot founded Mon Freedom League (MFL) with some nationalists and became President.  He was arrested by the central government for his political activities and imprisoned at Mandalay jail in 1948.  After he was released in 1951, Nai Ba Lwin then joined Mon armed struggle and was appointed Central Committee member and Chief of Information and Propaganda for the Mon Peoples Front which was re-organized as an umbrella organization in 1955.

While the MPF surrendered to U Nu’s parliamentary government in 1958 claiming as an exchange for democracy, the only senior leader Nai Shwe Kyin opposed the truce and remained in the jungle.  He then formed New Mon State Party on July 20, 1958, which becomes the main political party and vanguard for Mon armed struggle over forty years.  Since it was founded Nai Shwe Kyin who lived in Moulmein after the cease-fire with the Burmese regime retained the position of President.

As Nai Shwe Kyin played a major role in the Burma’s politic for a half century, he participated in 1963 Peace Talk with BSPP, Communist Party of Burma (CPB) and ethnic leaders.  He formed NULF (National United Liberation Front) in Bangkok, Thailand in 1970 together with U Nu (Prime Minister of Burma) and Mahn Ba Zan (President of Karen National Union).

A senior leader of ethnic and democratic forces was also elected as the Chairman of NDF; ethnic based armed organization, Vice Chairman of NCUB (National Council of Union of Burma) and DAB (Democratic Alliance of Burma) before the NMSP reached a cease-fire agreement with the regime.

Nai Shwe Kyin married to Daw Tint (deceased) from Waw, Pegu district and left one son behind.  According to the liaison office, the NMSP is holding an emergency meeting for a funeral service of the late President but no detail has been released.

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