In order to merge the All Mon Regions Democracy Party (AMDP) and the Mon Democratic Party (MDP), leaders and negotiators from both signed a four-point agreement and released a statement on October 13, 2012.
The agreement’s four conditions establish that the two parties must unify, the deadline for union is December 2014, step-by-step negotiation will occur through monthly meetings, and a new party name will be jointly selected.
AMDP Chairman Nai Ngwe Thein said, “The party members who don’t accept the union will be left behind. As a responsible leader, I resolutely made this decision.”
Nai Ngwe Thein, MDP Vice-Chairman Nai Tin Aung, and the secretary of the delegation of negotiators Venerable Monk U Khay Mar Nanda signed the statement, which was released at the 6th meeting of the Mon Affairs Negotiation Delegation held at the Aung Zay Ti Monastery in Mudon, Mon State, on October 13.
The attendees of the meeting included AMDP Chairman Nai Ngwe Thein, AMDP Joint Secretary Min San Tin, AMDP central executive committee member Nai Seik, MDP Vice-Chairman 2 Nai Tin Aung, MDP General Secretary Dr. Min Soe Linn, MDP Joint-Secretary 1 Dr. Min Kyi Win, MDP Joint-Secretary 2 Mon Raja aka Min Soe Win, and MDP central executive committee members Nai Pan Aung and Nai Soe Myint. The 70 attendees also included the monks serving as members of the delegation of negotiators and other observers.
Before determining a new name, three members from each party will form a team to describe the four points to the public, during which personal and party defamation is unconditionally prohibited.
“Our party doesn’t want to wait for December 2014. We are ready for union now. We have determinedly decided to merge. Each party has to choose 21 central committee members and there will be 42 central committee members in the newly united party. After that, central executive committee members will be chosen from among the central committee members through secret ballots. We already know each other very well and don’t need a complex process,” said Dr. Min Soe Linn.
He added that the objectives and opinions of the two parties differ regarding acceptance of the 2008 constitution.
The AMDP has supported the 2008 constitution and contested in the 2010 elections, while the MDP, formerly the Mon National Democratic Front (MNDF), does not support the constitution and did not register their party in 2010, choosing to boycott the elections along with the National League for Democracy (NLD) and other ethnic parties.
However, since the Thein Sein government assumed power last year, possibilities to amend the 2008 constitution have been discussed and political parties have re-registered with the government.
