Preliminary agreements reached during the meeting of February 1 have been reassessed by the central committee, and to officially confirm those agreements, the NMSP has decided to meet again with representatives of the government.

“It is sure that the peace agreement will be signed at this time. The NMSP has already decided to sign the agreements,” said Nai Tin Aung, leader of the Mon Peace Agency.

Vice Chairman of the NMSP Nai Rot Sa, Central Committee Member Nai Tala Nyi, Tavoy District President Nai B’nyair Lay, Thaton District Secretary Nai Aye-Ka, and fifteen other party members will join the meeting. Mon National Liberation Army (MNLA) Lieutenant Colonel San Aye will participate in place of Moulmein District Secretary Nai Aye Mon, who will miss the meeting for health reasons.

Leaders of the NMSP will leave their headquarters on February 23 to travel to meet the government representatives at the Strand Hotel of Moulmein where the previous meeting was held, according to the NMSP.

Nai Soe Myint said, “We’ve already informed the government. They replied that they will meet with us on February 25. This time, three more representatives will be added from the government side.”

State-level peace team leader Minister U Aung Min, Ministry of Industry and President of the Industrial Development Committee U Soe Thein, the Minister for Burma’s Ministry of Electric Power-1 (MEP-1) U Zaw Min, the Minister of Home Affairs U Khin Ye, Second Minister of Border Issues General Zaw Win, and Burma’s Chief Justice U Tun Tun Oo will represent the government.

The NMSP held a five-day emergency meeting from February 18-22 to decide whether to accept the preliminary agreements or not, and when to meet again with the government representatives.

During the meeting of February 1, the following five points were preliminarily agreed to:
1. To develop a ceasefire.
2. NMSP must assign an official team to negotiate with the government’s 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 is to be based in areas that both parties agree upon.

The NMSP previously signed a ceasefire agreement with the State Law and Order Restoration Council (SLORC) in 1995, but the agreement collapsed in 2010. However, a new ceasefire agreement will officially be signed on February 25.