The New Mon State Party (NMSP) issued a critical statement on the 73rd Mon Revolution day, arguing that there have been more restrictions on democratic rights and on the media under the current NLD Government compared to the Government of President Thein Sein.
The celebrations maintained a distinctly political tone, evident when Nai Hong Sar, Chair of the NMSP, advocated for “Freedom from revolution”, and urged attendees to strive for both equality and self-determination.
The NMSP called upon the Mon people in attendance at the celebrations, to vote in the upcoming general election (to be held on November 3), for the party platform that benefits them, and which will help to advance Mon National Unity.
While the NMSP supports the formation of a federal democratic union that upholds equality, they also want to see self-determination pathways for ethnic political parties and their armed organizations.
In a related event, the recent 4rth meeting of the 21st Century Panglong Union Peace Conference saw the inclusion of Accord-3 within the implementation discussions of the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement, however, parties attending the Conference did not come to any agreement on self-government laws guaranteeing State rights to self-determination.
The NMSP used the 73rd Mon Revolution Day to also announce that unless there is an agreement to draft a state constitution enabling self-determination rights, peace will remain elusive.
NMSP did welcome the renewal of the ceasefire commitment announced by the Tatmadaw, but criticized the Burmese military for attacking the Arakan Army (AA).
Mon Revolution Day has been celebrated now for 73 years marking the events of 1948 when 30 young men led by Bo Thein, and Nai Pan attacked the Zar Ta Pyin police station, in Hpa-an Township on the full moon day of WarKaung 1948.
The Mon Unity Party ( MUP ) message marking the 73rd Mon Revolution Day celebrations, commended the revolutionary spirit of the Mon people, who took that action in 1948. The MUP noted they were fighting with political determination against the armed oppression of the (AFPFL) government.
