Burma Courier No. 221     Mar 4, 2000

NEW MON STATE PARTY TAKES ON NEW LIFE

 HALOCKHANEE, Monland, Feb 25 (MUL) -- A statement read out at the 53rd
anniversary celebration of Mon National Day indicates that the New Mon
State Party has taken on new life since elections were held at the 4th
party congress from November 14 to December 2, last year.

 The statement renews the party's adherence to a call for tri-partite
dialogue with Burma's military regime and the country's democratic
opposition.   New members were elected by secret ballot to all levels of
the party's work, the statement reveals, and they are committed to working
openly and with full energy to bring about a political resolution to the
political crisis in Burma.

 The party statement was read by Nai Rotsa, following a speech by elder
statesman and party president Nai Shwe Kyin at the NMSP national day
ceremony at Paledoonphait near Halockhanee refugee camp on Feb 20.  After
the colourful ceremony and salute to the national flag, in which more than
200 Mon soldiers took part, party leaders Nai Shwe Kyin, Nai Rotsa, Nai
Hongsa, Nai Htaw Mon and Nai Ong Nai were questioned by Thai media
journalists about the current situation of the cease fire agreement with
the Burmese military government and the possible transfer of the Maneeloy
Student Centre to Sangkhlaburi.

 Afterwards, a three-day seminar attended by 150 persons, including 20
representatives of the Mon Unity League, was held.  Discussions centred
around how to build unity among the Mon people,  how to continue the
struggle for the people's rights and the draft constitution of the Union of
Burma.