The former Mon Democracy Party (MDP) and members that left the All Mon Regions Democracy Party (AMDP) officially registered the Mon National Party (MNP) with the Election Commission in Naypyidaw this Tuesday.

Final decisions were made for the new party at MDP’s recent executive committee meeting in Moulmein. It was confirmed the new party would be formed to accommodate AMDP members that left their party to join forces in contesting the 2015 elections.

“Because there is no path for two Mon political parties to walk directly together, we (MDP) will change our party name. For some members of AMDP that want to unite, we will just unify with this new party name. The election commission has also suggested it’s the best way,” said Nai Soe Myint, former member of the MDP executive committee.

Twenty-one party executive committee members signed the agreement including Chairman Nai Ngwe Thein. Senior members, Nai Soe Myint and Nai Layie Tamarh, were present during the official procedure in Burma’s capital.

“After getting approval with this new party name, we can now (legally) form the Mon National Party with a total executive committee 42 members, 21 from each party,” said Dr. Min Soe Linn, the former general secretary for MDP.

The final decision came on Dec. 22; a decision that came in part from suggestions from prominent Mon Buddhist monks that felt by being unified would help their chances in the upcoming elections. However some AMDP members voted not to join the new party and will continue working in their original group.

The former twenty-one MDP executive members were led by Nai Ngwe Thein; former party chairman, Nai Tet Lwin; first vice-chairman, Nai Tin Aung; second vice chairman, Dr. Min Soe Linn; general secretary, Dr. Min Kyi Win; first joint secretary and Mon Yarzar; second joint secretary. The former AMDP members were led by Nai Ngwe Thein; chairman, Nai Ouksar; secretary, Nai Tin Lwin; first joint secretary and Nai Saw Non; second joint secretary.