The Members of Parliament Union Congress was held from 14 to 19 of February on the Thai-Burma border and the MPs agreed in principle on reforming and expansion of the NCGUB.
"In order for the principle to go ahead, we agreed that first, we need to seek support from NCGUB alliances and member groups, Ethnic organizations' (inside Burma as well) support and agree to some international understanding and we need political as well as financial support by some countries," said Khun Man Ko Ban a participant in the Congress.
The Congress also re-elected Khun Teddy Buri as the president of MPU. Teddy is formerly the Minister of Asia/ Pacific Affairs (NCGUB) and the Chairman of Foreign Affairs Committee for National Council of the Union of Burma (NCUB).
While finding out about what other ethic leaders thought of the plan, Khu Richmond Htoo, the General Secretary of Karenni National Progressive Party (KNPP) said, "We support the expansion as an ethnic and state based organization".
Things are already complicated with the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC)'s planned referendum and they (NCGUB) shouldn't rush for the expansion, otherwise things could get worse. Expanding an organization which cannot do anything has no benefit, stated Col. Khun Okker the General Secretary of the National Democratic Front (NDF).
Major Sai Lao Hseng, the spokesperson of Restoration Counsol of Shan State (RCSS) said, "We agree on principle but we will need more discussions."
S.H.A.N contacted David Taw, the Head of Foreign Department of Karen National Union (KNU) and he didn't object to the principle to expand and said it is NCGUB's affair. When asked whether KNU would join, he said, "We have no reason to join".
NCGUB is a government in exile founded in 1990 in Marnerplaw then the KNU headquarters and led by Dr, Sein Win as the Prime Minister, who is also the first cousin of Nobel Peace laureate Aung San Suu Kyi.
