“The public across the nation is waiting for the result of this conference. However, we are here at the conference only to present our documents, which will be noted, but no decisions will be made. The conference will not produce any answers, so for me, it is like I am having a curry that does not have any salt,” said Nai Layae Tama, the MNP’s General Secretary.

On September 1, the second day of the conference, 32 representatives from the government, Tatmadaw, Hluttaw representatives, and political parties, gave respective speeches lasting 10 minutes each, speaking about their experiences on the peace process.

The MNP distributed pamphlets stating the 2008 Constitution should be amended and included 18 points for the federal union establishment.

The MNP’s general secretary’s speech also touched on the formation of a federal union army, the Nationalities State Army, the Federal Union Police Force, and the new nationalities’ states.

The policy for formation of a federal union in the MNP’s speech is based on decisions made at the 2016 Mon National Conference held in 3rd week of August, according to the MNP’s general secretary speech.

The All Mon Region Democracy Party (AMDP) will also give a speech on the 3rd day of the conference and it will include five sections including politics, security, economics, social welfare as well as land and environmental issues.

On September 1, representatives from non-signatories of nationwide ceasefire agreement (NCA) were absent from speaking at the conference.

Although the representatives of the United Wa State Party (UWSP), another non-signatory group, joined the Union Peace Conference, with the representatives leaving during the conference.

14 representatives from the New Mon State Party (NMSP), 8 representatives from the MNP and 8 from the AMDP are present at the conference, while representatives from the Women’s Party (Mon) are also present but as observers only.