“The agreement is similar to the one we made during the ceasefire of 1995. The difference is that [this agreement] is in contract form and more complete. All the agreed upon points were signed only after negotiations were made in advance,” explained Nai Rot-Sa, vice president of NMSP.

The five agreed upon points are as follows:

1. To develop a ceasefire.
2. NMSP must assign an official team to negotiate with the Peace Agency, including the task of negotiating locations, dates and times of said meetings.
3. NMSP must obtain a communications office in a location agreed upon by both parties. Further, arms must not be stored in this location.
4. NMSP is not to travel with arms to areas outside of designated areas.
5. NMSP to be based in areas which both party agree upon.

“The preliminary agreement was signed based on five points. The singing of the preliminary agreement was led by Nai Rot-Sa, the vice president of NMSP and U Aung Min, [leader of] state-leveled Peace Agency,” said Dr. Min Kyi Win, an agent of the Peace Agency.

This meeting is considered a preliminary negotiation, the results of which will be confirmed at a second meeting is expected to be held in the third week of February. The meeting will be held on the condition that the government present and obtain permission from the NMSP central committee.

The Burmese government was represented by Minister U Aung Min and his staff from the state level Peace Agency, the chief minister for the Ministry of Industry and the U Soe Thein, the president of the Industrial Development Committee.

The agreement ceremony was also attended by the chief minister of Mon State, prominent Mon senior monks Butanta K-tu-mar-lar, Butanta Thi-la-wun-wa, Say-Taung, Ko-yin-lay, and leaders from the Mon National Democratic Front such as Nia Tin Aung, Nai Thet Lwin, Dr. Min Kyi Win and Nai Soe Myint.