MNDF Chairman Asks for the Formation of Federated Burma

Independent Mon News Agency

May 6, 2005

The Chairman of Mon National Democratic Front (MNDF), Nai Tun Thein, asked the regime State Peace and Development Council (SPDC) to implement forming of genuine Federal Union of Burma, if not he argued that many other ethnic nationalities will follow as ethnic ‘Shan’ suit of declaring their Independence.

Nai Tun Thein is a prominent leader of the Mon people and he is also a leader of many non-Burman ethnic and democratic alliance organizations such as – United Nationalities League for Democracy (UNLD), United Nationalities Alliance (UNA) and also a leader in Committee for Representing Peoples Parliament (CRPP).

Regarding to the declaration of Shan Independence, he pointed out that many ethnic ceasefire groups, non-ceasefire groups and Daw Aung San Suu Kyi led National League for Democracy (NLD) demonstrated their political desires to live in a genuine federated Burma, not for breaking away from the lands of current Burma. Since the majority of opposition groups agreed upon on that issue, the regime SPDC should implement for formation of Federal Union of Burma.

“If the Burmese regime against their desires, many will follow to the (Shan) splinter group’s decision and do the same declaration”, expressed by 88 years old politician, Nai Tun Thein.

If the regime SPDC does not have ‘political will’ for the formation of genuine Union and grip in their own political system (unitary system under the military control), the armed resistance can break up one by one and the country and its people would face a political crisis, he added.

“If the regime implements the political desires of ethnic armed oppositions, even the break away ethnic oppositions will re-accept the agenda of Federal Union and the whole country will retain peace and political improvement”, he analyzed the political system.

The ethnic Shan armed oppositions and overseas Shan leaders declared ‘Independence’ recently after the SPDC arrested many Shan leaders and pressured to some parts of Shan armed resistance group to surrender to the regime and its armed force, tatmadaw.

Nai Tun Thein expressed a serious concern that the other ethnic groups will follow the Shan’s suit if the SPDC continues pressure to them.

He was elected as a MP in 1990 General Elections, he has involved in political activities during the movement for Burma’s Independence before 1948.

He has taken as Chairman for MNDF, the Mon political party which won 5 MP seats during 1990 General Elections, since the formation in 1988 to represent the Mon people. His party was abolished by the regime (SLORC at that time) in 1992 and he and some of MNDF top political leaders were put in prisons until 1995. In 1998, he and other ethnic leaders also called for the formation of CRPP to convent the people’s parliament with members of parliament who were elected in 1990 Elections.

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