Q: What was the purpose of the 6th congress meeting?

A: We viewed the current political situation in light of our policies and strategy, and we adopted plans for the future.

Q: What is the new political atmosphere?

A: The power centre has shifted slightly from absolute power concentrated only in the hands of Than Shwe [former senior-general of the junta]. They are trying to project a new image to the world.

Q: What are your plans?

A: First, we considered and discussed what the political parties in Burma should do and how we can facilitate their work. And we discussed what should be our priorities in capacity building. We have three core goals. The first is capacity building for the domestic political parties. They must work in domestic politics based on the 2008 Constitution. At the same time we are drafting proposed state constitutions for each state.

The second area is a constitutional awareness campaign among the people, because the new government will work based on this Constitution. Conducting an awareness campaign does not mean we are giving support to the Constitution. We must educate people on these matters that will be essential and useful to their understanding. We must educate the people on constitutional law.

The third area of our core political process is international advocacy. We must continue this work. At the same time, we work for the goal of dialogue with the government. We must facilitate a dialogue between stakeholders, and we must give stakeholders the necessary support.

Q: War between the KIA and government troops has broken out. Did the ENC discuss this issue and also the unification of armed ethnic alliances for fighting against the government?

A: The war issue is handled by the United Nationalities Federal Council (UNFC). The mission of the ENC covers all ethnic issues. There are three major groups in our ethnic forces, namely ethnic political parties, armed ethnic groups and ethnic civil society. We must formulate our strategy to cover these three groups. The ENC will focus on this strategy formulation, and the UNFC will focus on the war issue, fighting against the government using a combined force.

But instead of launching wars against the government, we should work for a peaceful resolution through international bodies. As our statement said, we welcome what President Thein Sein said about being willing to build confidence among ethnic people and calling for national unity. We urged President Thein Sein to cease the current armed conflicts with ethnic people and to extend a nationwide cease-fire and finally to enter a dialogue with ethnic people as soon as possible.

Q: Can the current conflict with the KIA spread to other areas?

A: It depends on President Thein Sein. If they don’t see this issue as a political issue and if they try to resolve this issue with violence rather than political means, the current conflict will be escalated and spread to other areas.

Q: What are the differences between the new and old government? Have human right violations in ethnic areas been reduced?

A: We must say we have not yet seen any changes or only slight changes, but the new government has been in power for only three months. We are interested in whether or not they will implement the new policy changes expressed in the president’s address.

Q: Some criticized the ENC for supporting the junta’s electoral process in the recent election.

A: From our point of view, we must consider what the people should do within this new constitutional framework and the election framework.

Q: So the ENC has two approaches. The first is to support domestic ethnic political parties and at the same time give support to six armed ethnic groups.

A: Our opposition forces are weak in exercising the principle of ‘unity in diversity’. I think we are weak in considering how to cooperate among ourselves. Fighting against the SPDC (military regime) is not the only way. Now the ethnic political parties are performing their role; it’s their way to fight against the former SPDC.

Q: What is the overriding goal of the ENC?

A: Our political stance has not changed. Building a federal union will remain as our overall political goal.

Q: Will President Thein Sein coming to you be a way to negotiate for peace?

A: Even if a dialogue takes place, the ENC would not be the stakeholder (or dialogue partner). We are just an advocacy and lobby group, and we will play a role only as a support mechanism in this regard.

Q: Do you think the military regime is trying to disrupt ethnic people’s efforts to build unity?

A: They never want to see ethnic unity. But that view is misguided because dividing ethnic groups will not benefit them. They will get good results only through a dialogue with the groups, one that can build ethnic unity. This is the only way they can establish a stable state. Fighting with ethnic forces will not benefit them or ethnic people.