_ Answered by Sai Wansai (General Secretary of the Shan Democratic Union)

Q. Is it a good idea to form a new rival government in exile?

- Having two exile governments would not be beneficial for the whole opposition and as such, should work out a compromise either by expanding the NCGUB to be all-inclusive or a merger of NCGUB, NCUB, ENC, all ethnic resistance armies, all ethnic political parties and so on.

- We should first evaluate the effectiveness of NCGUB, with its pros and cons. If there are more pros, we should keep and expand it to be more all-inclusive; if not we might as well like to disband it and start anew.

Q. Will a new rival government in exile be relevant to current political situations inside and outside the country?

- Definitely, if its operational reach is not only confined to outside the country but have operational areas within the country, coupled with functioning armed resistance and political movements linked to all opposition groups.

Q. Will a new rival government in exile be able to make any political impact significantly?

- If it is in a position to co-ordinate and co-operate all ethnic and opposition camps, the impact would be tremendous, if not, we will be only witnessing a formation of new government, which will evaporate into the thin air sooner than later. In short, it would depend on how it would go about as an exile government.

Q. Will a new rival government in exile be of any benefit to ordinary people in Burma?

- If one sees it as a form of heightening the level of confrontation, while eroding the military’s power base, to change the balance of power to our favour, it would boost the moral of an ordinary man. So it depends on how much the exile government could deliver.

Q. Will the people of Burma keenly support a new rival government in exile?

- If the newly formed government, not rival government, could deliver there will be support, if not it will be written off.

Q. Can the formation of a new rival government in exile derail the negotiations between Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and military regime?

- There has never been substantial negotiation between Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and military regime and there won’t be earnest negotiation anytime soon. Besides, a new all-inclusive exile government would strengthen DASSK’s hand and boost her bargaining power; i.e., if the exile government could really deliver.

Q. If a new rival government in exile is to be formed, how it should be formed and what kind of persons should be included in it?

- As a foundation, all active opposition and armed resistance groups which hold real territory or population base, political power base or politicians with mandate should form the core of exile government and expand it step by step to become more all-inclusive as time goes by.