A coalition of Mon State groups has vowed to step up anti-regime operations and work closer with other organizations across Myanmar.
The Mon State Federal Council (MSFC) conference over the weekend agreed to adopt a charter for Mon State and a strategy to boycott the junta’s planned election. The council also said it would form a committee to help displaced people.
Ko Lawi from the MSFC said: “The armed revolt is not very strong in Mon compared to elsewhere. Frontline commanders attended the meeting to boost coordination.”
In December, the Mon State Revolutionary Force, the armed wing of the MSFC, and other armed groups in Mon State that emerged after the 2021 coup, including the Mon State Defence Force, Mon Liberation Army and Mon National Liberation Army, agreed to merge as a single Mon army.
They have been fighting alongside other armed organizations in Mon and Karen states and Tanintharyi Region.
The MSFC held talks with the New Mon State Party, a signatory to the 2015 Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement (NCA), about mutual concerns and splinter groups, according to Ko Lawi.
“The NMSP abides by the NCA and we don’t discuss fighting the regime with them. But we share common political ground and will continue cooperating with them,” said Ko Lawi.
The MSFC is however working closely with NMSP’s Anti-Dictatorship breakaway group, which has been fighting the regime since last year, he said.
The MSFC was formed by revolutionary and pro-democracy groups two months after the February 2021 coup.
A Mon State teacher, who joined the Civil Disobedience Movement, said she would join the MSFC to support its move to form an interim Mon government.
“I heard it is prepared for administration. Officials from its home affairs department underwent law enforcement training in India. I plan to serve in the information department,” she said.
More than 200 people, including representatives from the civilian National Unity Government, Karenni State Consultative Council and Chin Brotherhood, attended the MSFC conference.
Of Mon State’s 10 townships, the most fighting has been reported in Ye Township bordering Karen State and Tanintharyi Region. Junta shelling has killed civilians in Kyaikto, Bilin, Thaton and Kyaikmaraw townships.
