Disarmed Mon group under pressure

Chan Mon, IMNA
February 9, 2006

A disarmed Mon group is under considerable pressure from the local military commander in Kawthaung and Mergui, in Tenasserim division.

“Mon Nyein Chan Yay” means Mon armed group. It exchanged arms for peace. It was founded by a retired leader of the New Mon State Party (NMSP) and was later divided. It is now being threatened by local people, said a leader of the group.

“For instance, if a fight takes place between our members and local people, our members are put in jail for more days than the local people. If the authorities realize that they are our members they will not release them easily and are badly treated,” a leader said

“We are subjected to more checks regarding our movement,” he added.

A former NMSP central member, Nai Soe Myit, founded Mon Nyein Chan Yay and the group has been based in Tavoy, Mergui and Kawthaung area since 2001.

The group had worked together with Gen.Khin Nyunt led Military Intelligence. But after the MI was dismantled and Gen Khin Nyunt sacked from power, the arms of the group were seized by the army.

After being disarmed, about a hundred members of the group separated, weakening it.

The people who left are threatened when they make a trip or are active in Kawthaung.