The 6th Conference of the National Council of the Union of Burma was held from 10 – 25 March 2002 in the liberated area of the Karen National Union. More than 59 delegates attended, representing the Democratic Alliance of Burma, the National Democratic Front, the Members of Parliament Union and the National League for Democracy (Liberated Area). Delegates freely and frankly discussed and analyzed the current political situation, and unanimously adopted certain key positions and objectives. Hereunder follows a list of some of these positions:

(The Conference) decides to give more emphasis, and undertake more actions for the unification of political aims, principles and policies, strategic matters and co-ordination of political forces in the democratic movement;
Decides that the NCUB is to seriously determine the prevailing political developments and lay down the immediate objective of the strategic program for effecting the “emergence of tripartite dialogue” and “convening of people’s parliament based on the result of 1990 election” and strive to achieve it so as to realize successfully the 4 main objectives of the Alliance within the term of the Sixth Conference;
Condemns gross human rights violations and the war of genocide waged in the ethnic nationalities’ areas of the Karen, Karenni, Shan, Chin, Arakanese etc. and
demands the immediate cessation of the violations and the war;
Decides that the SPDC should elevate the current talks with Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, for materializing early political dialogue, with the aim of resolving various problems of the country, and demands that the SPDC further elevate the dialogue, in which ethnic nationality representatives participate, for the resolution of problems of the entire country;
Demands the unconditional release of all political prisoners;
Demands freedom of movement for political parties, freedom of association, and freedom of the media etc., which are the basic needs of democracy;
Demands to put in place nation-wide cease-fire, so as the ethnic nationality forces may freely meet and hold discussions among themselves, in order to proceed to tripartite dialogue.

The Conference also made reference of its appreciation of the efforts of the UN Special Envoy Razali Ismail to bring about national reconciliation in the country, while demanding that the UN undertake more effective actions. Gratitude has been expressed to the various countries and organizations which have given assistance and support to the democracy movement in Burma, especially the Scandinavian countries, the EU, the United States and Canada.
The Conference called upon all democratic countries to sustain sanctions against the Burmese military clique, and to undertake more vigorous action to bring about lasting peace in the region.

Sai Wansai, editor of the Shan Herald News Agency ‘s view of self- determination

“The crux of the problem is none other than the lack of political settlement and restoration of democracy in Burma.

The issues of equality, right of self-determination and enjoyment of universally accepted human rights must be settled within the Burma context before reasonable and mature relationship could be built with neighbouring countries.

It is not at all productive to blame Thailand for all the woes and ethnic conflicts occurring in Burma. All of us know too well that without finding a lasting solution to the non-Burmese ethnic nationalities' rights to self-determination, the conflict will drag on for a long time to come.”