The New Mon State Party (NMSP) has sent a letter to Nay Pyi Taw, stating its decision to withdraw from participating in peace talks alongside the Military Council and the Peace Process Steering Team (PPST) of the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement (NCA) ceasefire groups.
According to Colonel Khun Okkar, a member of the PPST, the New Mon State Party (NMSP) stated in their letter to Nay Pyi Taw that they will no longer attend the peace talks organized by the Military Council and involving the PPST.
"They have decided to discontinue their visits to Nay Pyi Taw as a means of reducing cooperation. Every time they go there, they feel uncomfortable with the discussions. They sent a letter to Nay Pyi Taw saying they won't visit or meet with the military anymore. We got to hear the letter being read to us."
Colonel Khun Okkar further explained that the New Mon State Party (NMSP) has provided reasons in their letter as to why they will not participate in the talks with the Military Council alongside the PPST.
"I didn't hear their exact words, but their letter contains side-splitting discussions. It seems they approach their discussions with a lighthearted attitude, as described in the letter."
According to Colonel Khun Okkar, a member of the Peace Process Steering Team (PPST), the New Mon State Party (NMSP) will not be joining the PPST in the talks scheduled to take place in Nay Pyi Taw. However, negotiations are underway to explore the possibility of their participation in other areas of work.
"Currently, we are in the process of negotiating the specific areas in which they will participate and those they will not. They will have a role, such as in foreign affairs, where matters like going abroad and seeking assistance from other countries are not directly related to Nay Pyi Taw. We expect their involvement in such matters unrelated to Nay Pyi Taw."
The Peace Process Steering Team (PPST) consists of 10 groups that have previously signed the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement (NCA). However, following the military coup, only seven out of the ten members are currently actively participating in peace talks with the Military Council.
With the New Mon State Party (NMSP) deciding not to participate in the talks held in Nay Pyi Taw, the number of groups engaging in discussions with the Military Council is reduced to six. These remaining groups will continue to hold negotiations and dialogue with the Military Council on matters related to the peace process.
The cease-fire groups that will participate in the Peace Process Steering Team (PPST) and continue the talks in Nay Pyi Taw are the Karen National Union/Karen National Liberation Army-Peace Council (KNU/KNLA-PC), Restoration Council of Shan State/Shan State Army (RCSS/SSA), Arakan Liberation Party (ALP), Democratic Karen Benevolent Army (DKBA), Pa-O National Liberation Organization (PNLO), and Lahu Democratic Union (LDU).
