The Mon State Defense Force (MSDF) was formed in September 2021 after the coup d’état in Myanmar. The term of this resistance force has been more than one year. Due to changing situations of politics and military in this period, a leading committee on these sectors was reorganized.
The interview with Dr Thiri Mon Chan, the chairman of Mon State Defense Force, is talks about the reorganization of MSDF’s political and military leading committee, its revolutionary objectives, perspectives on Spring Revolution, and future plans.
TLT: Could you explain the reason for reorganization of MSDF’s political and military leading committee?
MSDF: The Mon State Defense Force was first established in September 2021. It was comprised with the central command region, northern command region and southern command region. There was no central leading committee in the past. After reviewing the organization on 31 January, we formed a leading committee with its chairperson and other members to manage political and military sectors. New members are included in the leading committee. After I have been a member of Mon Defense Committee on 31 January, I was selected for the head of this committee.
TLT: What is the future plan of your committee to end military dictatorship?
MSDF: I have two portions of answer for this question. The main objective of MSDF is to establish a strong army that can represent Mon state and Mon people. Although there was no a strong-armed force in the past, the Arakan Army was formed with the leadership of General Tun Myint Naing. Then, effective measures could do carried out in national defense duties. Another example is United Wa State Army (UWSA). We like their organization although their territory is only the status of self-administered division. Despite no federal unit, their people have self-administration like a government in their area because they have an army capable of defending their territory. Therefore, our top objective might be labelled narrow nationalism
However, every national places their interest at the top priority. Therefore, our main objective is to establish a strong and powerful army.
Your another question is concerned with anti-dictatorship activities. It is also one of our objectives. All the resistance forces in every corner of the country is fighting against military dictatorship. We also represent our people in this movement like other anti-dictatorship organizations of NUG, people defense forces, KNPP, KNU, and so on.
TLT: Why did MSDF join Spring Revolution?
MSDF: My message is aimed to Mon people. There are two different views in Mon State after the military coup. The first one is ‘willing to join with other allied forces in removing junta regime’. Another one is ‘the ongoing crisis is just concern of Myanmar’. It is the ‘problem between NLD’s party and Min Aung Hlaing’, and that it is not concerned with Mon people. Actually, the view of MSDF is that it is not a crisis just between political parties, not a clash between Myanmar people; not a problem between Daw Aung San Kyu Kyi; not a conflict between NLD and the military regime. It is actually a confrontation between all the people and the junta. This is a classic conflict, like revolution against the 18-centurary French kings. Our people are carrying out armed struggles, people defence fights, urban guerrilla force and underground forces. This is an appropriate time for Mon people to fight against Myanmar military.
Likewise, New Mon State Party is the vanguard of Mon people 20 years ago. After the Mon People Front (MPF) surrendered, its successor New Mon State Party has taken leading role over 70 years. However, we could not end the military dictatorship. We could not carry out even urban battles. However, this is an appropriate time because the nationwide anti-dictatorship movements are taking place across the country. The ongoing level of international pressure never happened before. For example, the National Defense Authorization Act confirmed protecting people’s defense force and supporting anti-military. Moreover, the UN Security Council never adopted a resolution on Myanmar in the past. Even NCGUB failed to win diplomatic campaign. This is a suitable time amid international pressure. So, our Mon people have decided to take part in the revolution as much as possible.
TLT: What are the MSDF doing to protect people and to gain their confidence?
MSDF: We need to prove this with our works. In the past, we did not make the public known who was leading our Mon state defense army. The reasons for the formation of this army was unknown even among Mon people. Now, we have disclosed the information transparently. I have identified myself as a leader of this organization. Our objective is to establish a professional army that represents Mon people before and after federal and democracy struggle in merger with any armed group, for example, New Mon State Party. Our army will be developed into an organization with better skills in combatant, administration and persuasion. In this regard, we cannot do it alone. We need material and spiritual supports of Mon people, along with military equipment.
TLT: What is your view on the existing situations of Mon state in the past two years? What is your remark on the ongoing armed conflicts which have spread to the controlled area of New Mon State party?
MSDF: I didn’t’ make any remark on this issue as a chairman of MSDF. But I wrote some articles about it as an analyst, covering politics, military and security concerns that can affect Mon State after the coup. There was no direct military operation in Mon state until late 2022. Some experts, including Mon nationals, are of the views that New Mon State Party is making peace dialogues with the junta regime, while some other organizations in the state are supporting the military. So, they concluded that armed conflicts will not take place in Mon State in contrary to Kayin, Sagaing, Magway and Karenni. Actually, armed conflict is like forest fire. It unavoidably spreads to our areas through border. In late 2022, armed fights took place in urban areas of Mawlamyine city, Chaunghnakhwa and Taunglay villages. Kamni village where many Mon people live outside the state also seriously suffered the conflicts.
We could guarantee peace, security of Mon state and its people only when we could establish a strong army. I want to quote the first President of United States, George Washington, saying “To be prepared for war is one of the most effective means of preserving peace.”
No one expects war. We also want to live peacefully. However, we could not avoid it in certain political and military situations. The war can spread like forest fire. If it reached our state, we should be ready for protecting our state and people. In Rakhine State, its Arakan Army can control their state. Similarly, UWSA is the own army of Wa people. So, if we need to secure peace and security of Mon people, a strong army is required for us.
TLT: Do you have a plan to join Mon defense army with NUG? On which issues will be focused?
MSDF: There are two objectives for the establishment of Mon defense army. The first one is the national interest of Mon people, like other ethnics, to protect our people and ensure their security. We hope to establish a self-administered state.
The second objective is concerned with the National Unity Government. We have a strategy in making alliance to fight against the military regime. We will join hands with any organization which are facing off the junta. Our Mon state army will not fight the military alone. We cannot defeat them alone. We need to make alliance with other ethnic armed organizations and other people defense forces outside the umbrella of NUG for the collective efforts.
A theory in war and politics says, ‘No eternal allies, and no perpetual enemies’. Our second objective is to end the military dictatorship, and all the forces of common objective are our allies. So, we will also coordinate with NUG and other ethnic armed organizations such as Kachin, Kayin and Rakhine. We will made a strong alliance with these groups for our destination.
Thanlwintimes