Introduction
The new Mon State government has emerged, ratified at the Third Mon State Hluttaw (Assembly) session held on April 7, 2026, following the 2025 elections of the coup military junta. While it may be considered no different from the previous coup military junta’s state government, it must be regarded as a new administrative body for Mon State in the practical political landscape. This paper analyzes the roles of the two ministers from the Mon Unity Party (MUP) within the government, their potential performance, and the challenges they will face within the military-led administrative mechanism.
Led by Chief Minister Major General Aung Win Than, the Third Mon State Government is formed with a combination of military representatives, the Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP), and the Mon Unity Party (MUP). From a political perspective, this structure appears to be a form of “three-force integration,” but in reality, it is a mechanism in which the military junta firmly controls administrative power.
The inclusion of representatives from the Mon Unity Party (MUP), which has a considerable level of support from ethnic people, in the government can be analyzed as a “politically symbolic show” intended to demonstrate the participation of ethnic forces within the state. However, the question remains as to how effectively this type of administration can bring about administrative changes amidst the complex political and security issues within the state.
Nai Layi Tama (Nai Khin Maung Zin), Minister of Planning and Finance
Nai Layi Tama is a veteran politician who served as a district executive of the New Mon State Party (NMSP) for over a decade, and as Joint General Secretary (1) of the Mon Democracy Party, the Mon National Party, and the current Mon Unity Party (MUP).[1] In addition, following the (2021) military coup, he served as a member of the Mon State Administration Council of the military junta and as Minister of the Ministry of Economy of Mon State, in accordance with the wishes of the military junta. Therefore, given his experience traversing armed revolution, political parties, and state government, he could become an important link between the government and armed organizations, especially in coordinating with Mon armed groups.
In particular, the “Wunna Kyaw Htin” title conferred by the military leader demonstrates the central military government’s trust in Nai Layi Tama, and on the other hand, it is also an attempt to build the legitimacy of the government by co-opting ethnic leaders like him into the administrative machinery.[2]
Role of the Minister of Natural Resources and Environmental Conservation
Daw Mi Lawi Han, who became the Minister of Natural Resources and Environmental Conservation, has experience in social community leadership as the Head of the Education Department under the New Mon State Party (NMSP) and as a Central Executive Committee member of the Mon Unity Party (MUP).[3] In other words, she can also be regarded as a well-known female leader among the Mon people. Typically, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Conservation is responsible for implementing the following:
(a) Systematically supervising natural resource extraction and environmental issues within the state in accordance with directives.
(b) Establishing technology-based policies in natural resource management.
(c) Addressing the grievances of local people regarding natural resources based on community experiences.
Mega Projects like coal-fired power plants, which were attempted to be implemented during the time of former Prime Minister U Aung Kyi Thein, are directly threatening the state’s ecosystem. As the military government may continue to push these projects for electricity needs and economic benefits, Mi Lawi Han will face significant tug-of-wars between the ministry’s “technology-based policies” and pressures from the central military government.
Moreover, local-based civil organizations and locals tend to strongly oppose coal-fired power plant projects that will severely impact the environment.[4] Based on party and social organization experiences, Mi Lawi Han is responsible for addressing the grievances of the locals, but when standing as a minister who must implement the government’s policy, they may come into direct opposition with the local community.
Key Challenges Faced by MUP Ministers
The fuel crisis currently stands as one of the most significant challenges. According to data from the Rehmonnya Institute for Civil Engagement (RICE), 88% of local residents are struggling to purchase fuel, while 11% are facing total shortages.[5] The government’s “Even/Odd License Plate System” and quota restrictions have proven ineffective on the ground, and fuel stations are largely failing to comply with directives. This situation serves as a “case in point,” eroding public confidence in the administrative capabilities and authority of the ministers.
Furthermore, because the military junta has seized key positions—including the Chief Minister and vital ministerial roles—within the Third Mon State Government, the “Policy Space” for civilian ministers to formulate independent policies and make autonomous decisions is extremely narrow under this military-led administrative machinery. This represents a major hurdle for MUP (Mon Unity Party) ministers.
Additionally, if they cannot effectively resolve the daily socio-economic crises of the people, the political image of these ethnic party ministers risks being viewed by the public merely as subordinates within the military government’s apparatus.
Conclusion
In conclusion, while the inclusion of two Mon Unity Party (MUP) ministers in the third Mon State government offers potential advantages for state development due to their party politics and administrative experience, the challenges they face in reality are far greater. Their success—or failure—will not be determined by their personal competence alone, but rather by the extent to which they are permitted to operate independently within an administrative framework controlled by the military.
In particular, if these ministers are unable to effectively resolve on-the-ground crises, such as the fuel problem, through their directives, there is a risk that their roles may become merely decorative for the administrative machinery. Therefore, it is assessed that MUP ministers must engage with the administrative apparatus with urgency, prioritizing actions that have a tangible impact on the ground over policies that exist only on paper.
[1]Mon State Hluttaw, March 20, 2026: Mon State Parliament (Naing Layitama).https://monstate.hluttaw.mm/representatives/%E1%80%94%E1%80%AD%E1%80%AF%E1%80%84%E1%80%BA%E1%80%9C%E1%80%9A%E1%80%AD%E1%80%90%E1%80%99/
[2] Independent Mon News Agency, March 3, 2026: Military Leader Awards Wunna Kyaw Htin Title to Naing Layi Tama. Independentmonnewsagency Independentmonnewsagency
[3] Mon State Hluttaw, March 20, 2026: Mon State Parliament (Mawlamyine). https://monstate.hluttaw.mm/representatives/%e1%80%99%e1%80%ad%e1%80%9c%e1%80%9d%e1%80%ae%e1%80%9f%e1%80%94%e1%80%ba/
[4] Independent Mon News Agency, July 24, 2024: Junta affiliates are threatening to buy land in Chaungzon, where a coal-fired power plant will be built. Independentmonnewsagency
[5] Rehmonnya Institute, April 3, 2026: Fuel Crisis – Can the Mon Parliament Find a Solution?https://rehmonnyainstitute.com/2026/04/03/monsan/
