Former NMSP Army Chief reacts to party accusation

IMNA

05 May 2008 - Former New Mon State Party (NMSP) army chief, Nai Aung Naing who has disassociated himself from the party has reacted to a party statement accusing him of being a traitor.

His peace group released a statement recently. This is the first time, that the Nai Aung Naing led peace group called, Kae-Kon-Hport-Lae-Lorn-Htaw-Nyi-Sar-Kon-Gae-Kao-Mon, has released a two page statement to the people.

His peace group denied the NMSP's accusation and appeal to the people to take strong action against the army chief, Nai Aung Naing and his group.

The statement said, Nai Aung Naing has not surrendered to the Burmese military government and he is taking a positive step to work with the junta for the nation while NMSP is taking a retrograde step. He is not taking any weapons from the party in order to surrender.

The statement also said, the army chief did not know that he was told to retire by the party for medical treatment. The statement in a five point charter of demands said the NMSP should not monitor peace group supporters; not to make false accusations for their leaving the party and allow free movement to the people.

Nai Aung Naing led 12 NMSP members to negotiate with the military government for better business prospects four months ago without informing the NMSP headquarters. Nai Aung Naing went to Rangoon ostensibly for medical treatment and talked to the military junta to found a peace group for supporting referendum and elections in 2010.

His peace group asked the junta to allow it to run businesses freely in Three Pagoda Pass area, Tenasserim Divison, Myawaddy Road, and an area, near NMSP's Thaton District. Currently his group is mobilizing people to make the peace group stronger.

The 76-year old Nai Aung Naing headed for Nay Pyi Taw a couple of times for the deal with the junta after treatment in Rangoon. After the deal he formed the peace group and started moving in the Mon community. His peace group is trying to get former NMSP members who have retired to join his group.

Nai Aung Naing was appointed army chief in 2005 at a New Mon State Party central committee meeting and he worked with the party for 34 years after deserting from the Burma Army in 1974. He was a good fighter but has a background of corruption in land deals in Three Pagoda Pass area.