Mon delegates from inside Burma met Mon from the border and overseas areas in a three-day meeting in Burma to build solidarity among Mon communities.

The 5th Conference on Mon National Affairs was held from 27 to 29 December 2009 in a liberated area.  Kaowao reporters attended with 89 delegates including senior NMSP leaders and the Mon grass root organizations from inside Burma, Thailand and overseas.

The conference issued a joint statement rejecting the State Peace and Development Council’s (SPDC’s ) forthcoming 2010 election arguing that the Burmese regime’s initiative was only to ensure military rule over the people and Burma’s resources without guaranteeing democratic and fundamental human rights within a federal union.

The delegates selected 33 Central Committee of Mon Affairs Union (MAU) members to work over a two year term with the goal of building trust, strengthening communication, and uniting the Mon people to move forward.

Nai Baeng (Gang Yaeng), the main organizer of the Mon Affairs Union (MAU), said that the meeting was one of the biggest gatherings he has been to, which had delegates from throughout Mon State and overseas. Realizing there are obstacles to peace ahead Bang said, “Our self-determination must not be obstructed by infighting. How they (MAU) are going to move forward remains to be seen, but it is necessary to call a National Congress which includes representatives from the different political, social and grassroots organizations that can all agree on what strategy to adopt while ensuring agreement and unity."