Kamni, January (26)
The military conflict that arose after the military coup has now expanded to the area under the control of the Mon ethnic armed group, the New Mon State Party (NMSP) that opted for negotiation.
There have been sporadic clashes and arson attacks on houses in recent days in NMSP-controlled areas.
Among them, Kawtton village, where a clash broke out after the KNLA joint forces set fire to the Kkawbein police station in Kawkayeik Township on January 16, is an area under the control of the New Mon State Party and is only half a mile away from the Thaton district headquarters.
In addition, villages such as Kanni, Migalon, and Kawbein near Kyondoe Town in Karen State’s Kawkayeik , where the fighting has been intense since January 21, are also included in the territory of the NMSP’s Thaton headquarters, where most of the ethnic groups live.
The New Mon State Party has not yet made any public statements regarding the armed conflicts that have taken place inside its territory, the destruction of the Mon people’s homes, or the conflict’s impact.
Ta La Nai, a member of the New Ramanya Federal Force (NRFF), sees the current situation as critical for the New Mon State Party, which is attempting to avoid conflict through dialogue. He went on to say that, “when we are fighting a common enemy, we, the Mon people, should fight like other ethnic groups. I think we should stop meeting and discussing with the military council, which has no benefit.”
In addition, Ta La Nai pointed out that the NMSP should do something militarily to root out the military dictatorship and protect its own people.
A young Mon believes that in this situation, the New Mon State Party may seek to negotiate with its allied Karen National Union (KNU) and People’s Defense Forces (PDFs), including the military council.
Than Lwin Times has called at least 10 times to the spokeswoman of the NMSP, Nai Augn Ma Ngae, regarding the fighting happening at NMSP’s areas, but has not received any response.
The New Mon State Party (NMSP), which signed the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement (NCA) under the NLD government, attended three peace talks led by military leader General Min Aung Hlaing after the military coup.
News-Than Lwin Times