STATEMENT OF THE UNITED MON PATRIOTIC FORCES (OVERSEAS)

12 October 1998

We, the United Mon Patriotic Forces (Overseas), herein reaffirm our wholehearted support for the Mon Unity League's 18 March 1998 statement, in which it calls for an immediate tripartite dialogue between the ruling military regime SLORC/SPDC, the democratic opposition National League for Democracy led by Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, and leaders of the ethnic non-Burman nationalities in the country.

We note at a surprise the New Mon State Party's two recent statements: Namely the 18 August 1998 statement whereby NMSP expressed its support for NLD, and the 29 September 1998 statement whereby it said something contrary to the earlier one. At the same time, we appreciate the NMSP leaders' frankness in their more recent meeting with the Mon Unity League, in which they admitted that the only 18 August 1998 statement was voluntarily done to express their genuine wishes, whereas the latter one was done involuntarily and no more than to appease SLORC/SPDC temporarily.

We strongly condemn SLORC/SPDC for its recent massive crackdown on the NLD and the ethnic opposition in the country by arresting and detaining hundreds of elected members of parliament including leaders of the ethnic non-Burman opposition parties. We strongly demand that SPDC immediately release all these political prisoners, including leaders of the Mon National Democratic Front (MNDF).

We strongly condemn SLORC/SPDC for forcing the people into involuntary participation in its patronized anti-NLD mass demonstrations. We strongly demand that SLORC/SPDC immediately stop such cunning acts.

We strongly condemn SLORC/SPDC for its increased disturbance of the Mon literacy movements in the country and strongly demand that SLORC/SPDC recognize and respect linguistic rights of the Mon people.

We encourage the Mon public to stand firmly behind the Mon National Democratic Front and to remain united with the rest of the ethnic nationalities in the country in supporting the People's Parliament.

We urge the international community to help solve the political crises, restore democracy and federal system in our country.

The United Mon Patriotic Forces or UMPF (Overseas) was very recently formed on consensus with the specific objective to further coordinate and intensify Mon political opposition against the present racist military dictatorship in Burma.

Present members of the UMPF include the following groups:

(1) Monland Restoration Council (USA)

(2) Mon Association of Canada (Canada)

(3) Australian Mon Association (Australia)

(4) Overseas Mon Youth Organization (Japan)

(5) Mon Youth Community (Bangkok, Thailand)

(6) Mon Information Service (Bangkok, Thailand)

(7) Overseas Mon National Students' Organization (Bangkok, Thailand)

(8) Overseas Mon Workers' Organization (Thailand)

(9) Human Rights Foundation in Monland

(10) Committee for publicity of the People's Struggle in Monland

(11) Mon Workers' Organization in Malaysia and Singapore

(12) Mon Women Organization

(13) Mon Representatives in Norway and Finland

(14) Mon Literature Promotion Organization (Bangkok, Thailand)

(15) Overseas Mon National Democratic Front (OMNDF)