Referendum will destroy chances of reconciliation: NMSP

Referendum will destroy chances of reconciliation: NMSP
by -
Loa Htaw
The Burmese junta's announcement of referendum and election has destroyed the chances of negotiation for national reconciliation, said New Mon State Party (NMSP), the ethnic ceasefire group on the 61st anniversary of the Mon national day today.
The Burmese junta's announcement of referendum and election has destroyed the chances of negotiation for national reconciliation, said New Mon State Party (NMSP), the ethnic ceasefire group on the 61st anniversary of the Mon national day today.
 
The Burmese regime recently announced that a draft of the nation's new constitution had been completed and will be put to a referendum in May, and be followed by elections in 2010, according to the state media.
 
This referendum ha destroyed the chances of negotiation for national reconciliation said a NMSP statement on national day.
 
By doing so, without negotiating with democratic parties and other ethnic nationalities, we do not believe it can solve the political crisis, the statement added.
 
NMSP Joint-Secretary Nai Chan Toi also said that 13 years of ceasefire with the Burmese junta has proved clearly that there is no change in Burmese politics at Mon national celebration on Thai-Burma border Three Pagoda Pass township, Palaing Japan village.  
 
"We want our people to know that we have lost trust in the government. We have waited for talks for 13 years but still nothing has changed," said Nai Chan Toi. "By 2008 today we still have no freedom" he added.
 
NMSP President Nai Htaw Mon also urged in his epistle that NMSP is standing on its own and depending only on Mon people.
 
The New Mon State Party and local people celebrated national day in their areas of control in Moulmein , Tha-ton, Tavoy districts and Thai-Burma border area Three Pagoda Pass Township.
 
In 1995, the New Mon State Party (NMSP), the largest Mon armed resistance group entered into a cease-fire agreement with the Burmese military regime (SPDC) with the aim of solving the political problems by peaceful means.
 
Mon National Day falls on the first waning of Maigh, the ninth month in the Mon lunar calendar (which falls on February 22 this year). Mon National Day began in 1947 and it honors the founding of the peaceful Hongsawatoi, Mon Kingdom (Pegu) established in 1116 of the Buddhist Era or 573 AD Common Era, located in the south-eastern parts of Burma ( Myanmar ).