Audio Overview
The Mon Unity Party (MUP), the political party of the Mon people, will participate in the upcoming (2025) election to be held by the Myanmar military junta. On November 20th, the Mon Unity Party’s election policy positions were broadcast on Myanmar Radio and Television (MRTV), which is controlled by the military junta, and were also reposted on the party’s official social media page. This analysis paper will focus on analyzing the Mon Unity Party’s stated policy positions. In addition, some of the positions of Mon armed groups that will oppose the military junta’s 2025 election will also be excerpted.
(1)Studying the Policy Stances of the Mon Unity Party (MUP)
On November 20th, the Mon Unity Party released its election policy stances, which were presented in both Mon and Burmese languages by two members of the party’s Central Executive Committee. The policy presentation, which lasted approximately 14 minutes and 46 seconds, revealed that the Mon language presentation was more comprehensive. [1]The Mon Unity Party is focusing solely on Mon State and will participate in the election with 38 party candidates in various constituencies throughout the state.
The Mon Unity Party stands as a Mon political organization operating within the legal framework. As per the party’s chosen path, it is participating in the current political process, including competing in the upcoming 2025 election without evasion, in order to bring about change. While the Mon Unity Party acknowledges that the elections may not fulfill all the desires of the Mon people, it believes that they provide an opportunity and means to achieve its vision of a democratic and federal union.
Regardless of public opinion on the election, it is believed that all Mon people in the country will accept that there should be a Mon political organization that can work for the benefit of the Mon people in the next parliamentary term, which is presented and spoken in the Mon language.[2]
The statement includes the goal: “To cooperate in amending the constitution and undertaking necessary tasks, aiming to build a Union and a nation based on democracy and federalism, complete with the Lokapala Dhamma (Guardians of the World) principles of a strong, Justice, freedom, and equal multi-party democratic system.” it is understood that the Mon Unity Party (MUP) will only push for amendments to the 2008 Constitution.
In other words, it is the policy of the Mon Unity Party to build a federal union with the (2008) Constitution. Therefore, although the Mon Unity Party proclaims, “Let’s march towards a federal union,” it can be seen that it has only been able to adopt an uncertain policy. In addition, in the party’s policy summary education presentation, “to implement mother tongue-based education for ethnic groups” is only included in the Mon language version and not in the Burmese language version.
In other words, this is the Mon Unity Party’s policy of building a federal union with the 2008 Constitution. Therefore, although the Mon Unity Party is advocating with the slogan, “Let’s march towards a federal union,” it can be seen that they have adopted an uncertain policy. Furthermore, in the party’s policy summary presentation on education, the goal “to implement mother-tongue-based teaching for ethnic nationals” is only included in the Mon language version and is absent from the Burmese language version.
(2) Statements from Mon Armed Political Organizations Regarding the Election
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New Mon State Party
Statement from Nai Aung Ma Ngay, spokesperson for the New Mon State Party, regarding the election: “We don’t know the Mon people’s opinion. As for their own politics, as citizens, they will continue to do what they want. We have nothing to dispute or say about this election. In our area, there are no signs yet of them building polling stations or anything like that. We are not putting any pressure on anyone. Those who want to go can go, those who want to stay can stay, they are free to decide. We are not interfering or commenting in any way.”[3]
- New Mon State Party – Anti-military Dictatorship
Statement by Nai Saik Chan Aung, Political and Military Leader of the New Mon State Party (AD): Looking back at successive governments dominated by the military regime, from the Burmese Socialist Programme Party (BSPP), State Law and Order Restoration Council (SLORC), State Peace and Development Council (SPDC), to the current military commission era, I see that they have made social crises worse rather than resolving them. The military commission burns villages all over Myanmar, bombs the people, commits massacres, and forcibly conscripts young people into the army. The military commission, which commits such injustices and oppressions, will not be able to bring justice. But their (election) is only a process to prolong the life of the military dictatorship.”[4]
- Mon State Federal Council
Statement by Mi Thuta Jaw, Chairman of the Illegal Anti-Election Committee of the Mon State Federal Council, following the enactment of the Anti-Election Law: “Our enacted laws also include educating the public, emphasizing public participation, and conducting activities such as distributing leaflets and surveys for public education and public cooperation. Therefore, including prevention, punishment, and action, we hope that if the public cooperates and works with us, we will be able to deter an organization from making mistakes to a certain extent in the best way possible.”[5]
Conclusion
In summary, the Mon Unity Party views the military junta’s (2025) election as a political outlet and has decided to participate and compete within the framework of the (2008) Constitution. However, the discrepancies in the party’s policy statements, published in both Mon and Burmese languages, with differing policies in each language, raise questions about the party’s stance.
Furthermore, there are differing opinions among Mon political forces regarding the election. The New Mon State Party (NMSP) maintains a neutral stance on the election, accepting the public’s decision, while the New Mon State Party (AD) and the Mon State Federal Council (MSFC) strongly oppose and fight against it, considering it a sham election that will prolong the military dictatorship.
Therefore, whether the upcoming (2025) election will lead to a federal path as envisioned by the Mon Unity Party, or further solidify the military dictatorship, remains to be seen. However, based on the current situation, it is clear that there are significantly divergent paths among Mon political forces concerning the election.
