In an interview with the Independent Mon News Agency, Naing Han Thar, Chairman of the New Mon State Party (NMSP), expressed his view that finding a political solution to the ongoing conflicts and crises in Myanmar is currently unattainable.
While recognizing the importance of resolving the internal issues resulting from the military coup through political means, Naing Han Thar emphasized that the possibility of initiating dialogue hinges primarily on the attitude and decisions of Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, who currently holds de facto power.
"In the current circumstances, resolving the aggression in Myanmar politics is a formidable task. The fate of Min Aung Hlaing, the wielder of power, holds the key to the situation. Strikingly, avenues for political escape are all but vanished for him. Seeking asylum in another country is not an option. Each scenario presents immense difficulties, leaving us in anticipation of his willingness to find a compromise. The intricate puzzle lies in discerning whether he will engage in negotiations with the National Unity Government (NUG) or with Daw Aung San Suu Kyi. However, should he opt to negotiate with the revolutionary forces, he will inevitably depart from the political landscape. The moment the Military Council embraces this transformative change, tranquility will envelop the entire nation. Yet, if Min Aung Hlaing obstinately clings to power until his last breath, the possibility of negotiations becomes utterly unattainable”, Naing Han Thar said.
NMSP firmly maintains the view that political issues should exclusively be resolved through political means. In the aftermath of the coup, NMSP has engaged in constructive dialogue with the Military Council on no less than five occasions.
In the course of the deliberations with the Military Council, NMSP emphasized the importance of addressing political challenges solely through peaceful political methods. Additionally, it called for inclusive discussions involving democratic forces, including Daw Aung San Suu Kyi. These points were duly documented in the meeting minutes and widely reported in various news outlets.
"The Military Council's steadfast adherence to the 2008 Constitution remains the primary challenge. In our engagements with them, they consistently invoked this constitution, leading us to scale back the extent of our discussions as we saw limited prospects for progress. Nevertheless, in order to prevent armed conflict between our factions, we are exercising restraint”, Naing Han Thar added.
Furthermore, in accordance with the evolving political landscape, NMSP's involvement in the Peace Process Steering Team (PPST) has also been scaled back. PPST consists of ethnic armed organizations (EAOs) that have endorsed the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement (NCA).
Following the coup staged by the Myanmar Military on February 1st, 2021, widespread anti-junta protests emerged across the nation. Unfortunately, these demonstrations were met with violent and brutal crackdowns, prompting a shift in the revolution towards formidable armed resistance.
Presently, the Military Council is engaged in conflict with various EAOs, as well as the People's Defense Force (PDF) and the Local Defense Force (LDF) throughout the nation. Ethnic territories such as Karen, Karenni (Kayah), Chin, as well as lowland regions including Magway and Sagaing, have emerged as significant bastions of the revolution.
According to survey data, the ongoing internal conflicts have resulted in the displacement of over 1.7 million individuals, while a staggering 17 million people are in urgent need of emergency assistance.
