The SPDC authorities today ordered the head of the New Mon State Party (NMSP) to make a list of all NMSP soldiers, sources in the Township Development and Peace Council (TPDC) said.

“In previous years the SPDC ordered us to record a list of soldiers but they would never outlined timings and due dates. This time around they have issued an exact deadline of

December 2007,” Than Phyu Zar Pyup, a head of the TPDC said.

“They sent the order by formal mail. This time it is more serious than in the past. The orders for the list were given to the NMSP after the monks protested in Moulmein,” he added.

New Mon State Party spokesperson, Nai Ong Magnae confirmed the TPDC statement saying, “In the past the SPDC asked us for the list and sometimes the TPDC and the Village Peace and Development Council (VPDC) would register the soldiers numbers in the village.”

The SPDC has already ordered people to register in Ye, Koit Ka Rait, Bi Lu Kyun and Than Phyu Zar Pyup Township.

In Ye Township, an NMSP headquarters spokesman said, “The TPDC ordered us by mail to include soldiers’ names, age, parents’ names and responsibilities.”

“After the NMSP cease-fire with the SPDC, most businessmen, including Htawai and Karen as well as Mon, would be in touch with the NMSP.  So, I wonder if they are registerong the NMSP soldiers list and how seriously it could affect our security and business,” an anonymous source said.

“Most Thai phone owners in Mon State will relate with a head of the NMSP and they will also use this person’s name in order to help their business run smoothly. Similarly, vehicle owners and unlicensed motorbike owners often use NMSP’s name to travel around and conduct their business. The fact that this time the SPDC is really serious about registering the NMSP soldiers list is not a good sign for us,” a car owner in the Three Pagodas Pass said.