The Mon Peace Defense Force announced that it will cooperate with the military council and stand as a local militia.

The Mon Peace Defense Force, which had surrendered to the government after breaking away from the New Mon State Party, announced the transformation as a militia group on October 10, the 12th anniversary of the surrender.

The Mon Peace Defense Force said it was cooperating with the Military Council for peace and counter-terrorism objectives.

"We will make efforts for peace and stability in the daily social life of the public," said an official of the Mon Peace Defense Force. In addition, the group announced that it will strongly oppose any terrorist act.

They take up arms again because civilians, administrative officials and government staff are being killed in Mon State, the Mon Peace Defense Force also claimed.

On the 12th anniversary of the surrender, the Mon Peace Defense Force announced that the responsibilities of General Naing Shaung, the first military commander, were transferred to Brigadier General Naing Aung Tun.

“After the Mon Peace Defense Force surrendered, they built a checkpoint and collected taxes at the location approved by the government. There are no other military activities”, a former member of the New Mon State Party said.

The Mon Peace Defense Force is a group that broke away from the New Mon State Party in 2008. In 2010, the 200-member-group surrendered to the Southeast Regional Military Command along with small arms.

In 2019, during the National League for Democracy (NLD) government’s reign, some members of the Mon Peace Defense Force were arrested with illegal weapons as well as drugs.