PRESIDENT OF NEW MON STATE PARTY PASSED AWAY
(Kao-Wao, March 7, 2003)

A well-known Mon national leader Nai Shwe Kyin passed away in Mon State,
Burma.

According to the source form New Mon State Party, the president and founder
of NMSP passed away peacefully at his Myaing TharYar resident, Moulmein,
capital of Mon State at 1:30 AM local time, March 7, 2003. He is 91.

Nai Shwe Kyin (aka) Nai Ba Lwin, President of the New Mon State Party was
born at Kawhnat, near Moulmein on March 1, 1913. He studied at Methodist
mission school and graduated from Rangoon University before joining the
British Navy and attained the rank of instructor.

In 1947, the young patriot founded Mon Freedom League (MFL) with some
nationalists and became President. He was arrested by the central
government for his political activities and imprisoned at Mandalay jail in
1948. After he was released in 1951, Nai Ba Lwin then joined Mon armed
struggle and was appointed Central Committee member and Chief of Information
and Propaganda for the Mon Peoples Front which was re-organized as an
umbrella organization in 1955.

While the MPF surrendered to U Nu’s parliamentary government in 1958
claiming as an exchange for democracy, the only senior leader Nai Shwe Kyin
opposed the truce and remained in the jungle. He then formed New Mon State
Party on July 20, 1958, which becomes the main political party and vanguard
for Mon armed struggle over forty years. Since it was founded Nai Shwe Kyin
who lived in Moulmein after the cease-fire with the Burmese regime retained
the position of President.

As Nai Shwe Kyin played a major role in the Burma’s politic for a half
century, he participated in 1963 Peace Talk with BSPP, Communist Party of
Burma (CPB) and ethnic leaders. He formed NULF (National United Liberation
Front) in Bangkok, Thailand in 1970 together with U Nu (Prime Minister of
Burma) and Mahn Ba Zan (President of Karen National Union).

A senior leader of ethnic and democratic forces was also elected as the
Chairman of NDF; ethnic based armed organization, Vice Chairman of NCUB
(National Council of Union of Burma) and DAB (Democratic Alliance of Burma)
before the NMSP reached a cease-fire agreement with the regime.

Nai Shwe Kyin married to Daw Tint (deceased) from Waw, Pegu district and
left one son behind. According to the liaison office, the NMSP is holding
an emergency meeting for a funeral service of the late President but no
detail has been released.

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