Democratic Voice of Burma

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• NLD to sue USDP rep for defamation
• Government snubs National Network for Education Reform
• DVB Debate: Youth Voice special
• Reformist govt must acknowledge past: HRDP
• 50 arrested in raid on Moehti Moemi camp
• Their hands, our future

NLD to sue USDP rep for defamation Posted: 05 Mar 2014 02:31 AM PST The National League for Democracy (NLD) plans to file a defamation suit against the Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) upper house representative Hla Swe for "slandering" NLD officials. NLD Central Committee member Win Htein said that the party was offended by Hla Swe's recent remarks in Burmese press, which had him on record saying all NLD leaders are "useless" except for Aung San Suu Kyi. "I have recommended that U Hla Swe be sued for his slanderous remarks about our party," said Win Htein. "He was quoted as saying that — with exception of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi — everyone else in the party is useless, and that our abbreviation D-Gyoke should be changed to D-Shoke [Shoke means untrustworthy]  — this makes them liable for a suit under both civil and criminal laws." Another member of the NLD Central Committee and the party's lawyer Nyan Win, confirmed the intention to sue. Hla Swe, however, does not think the NLD will follow through on their threat. "I don't think they'll go ahead – I have my freedom of speech… if they are upset with that, then they are not really democratic," he said. "We, the USDP, are about democracy." Hla Swe made the remarks during an interview with a news journal last week after appearing on a DVB debate programme alongside NLD legal experts. Related Stories DVB Debate: Youth Voice special Their hands, our future NLD eyes closer relations with China

Government snubs National Network for Education Reform Posted: 05 Mar 2014 02:11 AM PST Burma's Ministry of Education has retracted an invitation to the National Network for Education Reform (NNER) to attend a national education reform seminar in Naypyidaw, claiming that the invite was sent accidentally. NNER, a non-governmental reform committee, was told on Monday that they will not be among the delegates at the event, scheduled for 5-6 March. The Ministry said that the welcome had been a "misunderstanding". "The Ministry of Education's retraction of the invitation signifies a restriction on the NNER, [which is] looking to create democratic education reform in the country in accordance with the public's will," NNER said in a statement. NNER member Ye Win said that he could only assume the government retracted the invitation to block a channel for criticism. "This shows there is still a centralisation of power in the government. I can only assume they are worried about us saying things like this in the seminar, preventing them from going ahead with their own plan," said Ye Win. Speaking under the alias "Dr. Bio", another NNER member said, "despite the rhetoric in President Thein Sein's monthly radio speeches — 'the people’s voice is the Hluttaw’s voice, the people’s desire is the Hluttaw’s desire' — [this incident] leads to only one conclusion: they are all hypocrites." Related Stories DVB Debate: Youth Voice special Reformist govt must acknowledge past: HRDP Their hands, our future The NNER, an independent network of university professors, lecturers, teachers and students, drafted an educational policy that has been submitted for parliamentary review, though it is still unclear when Burma will make moves to adopt new educational legislation, and what it will be. Two days of conferences, organised by the Ministry's Education Promotion Implementation Committee, will address development at all levels of schooling; from kindergarten to university. President Thein Sein is scheduled to attend, assuming that his invitation was not issued by accident.

DVB Debate: Youth Voice special Posted: 05 Mar 2014 01:06 AM PST In a special episode, DVB Debate teamed up with DVB's Youth Voice to discuss what changes the youth of Burma would like see from their country’s development. Young people in Burma have played a crucial role in the country's political history and university students have led several major protest movements, including the 8888 Uprising. As a result, for decades, the restrictive military government in Burma repressed its young people and the education system through fear of dissidence. But now the country is moving towards democracy, young people in Burma have more chances to be influenced by modern technology and ideas, as well as become involved with business and politics. This week the youthful four-person panel consists of rural development Action Aid worker, Nang Yu Htay; Miss Supranational Myanmar 2013, Khin Wint Wah; Sithu Maung, from Yangon Economics University Student Union; and iPace instructor Sit Maw. Cartoon: DVB Debate Panelists discussed the education gap young people face in rural and urban areas. "I experience that many urban graduates are just trying to go abroad," said Nang Yu Htay. "Even if there are urban teachers coming to our areas, they run away in a short time." Sit Maw said teachers needed to expand their own knowledge. "Before sharing with others by teaching them we should rather increase our knowledge and skills in order to really help them," he said. But Nang Yu Htay disagreed and said people should go to the rural areas and learn from each other. "Going into the rural area and working with the people there is the way to understand their needs. It is an opportunity to learn from them and this way we also learn about what our needs are in terms of teaching them," she said. Audience members pointed out that young people in rural areas have fewer opportunities even if they have had a good education. "It is a problem to apply for jobs as a rural area graduate because of the bad education there," said Action Aid fellow, Waw Lay. "Good computer and English speaking skills are the big obstacles for graduates from the rural areas when applying for a job." Many young people in Burma are heavily influenced by their parents and society. Getting good grades in a certain subject at school dictates what subject you will study at university. Related Stories NLD to sue USDP rep for defamation Government snubs National Network for Education Reform Their hands, our future "Most young people currently choose to be engineers, doctors etc. depending on their grades and potential job opportunities in the future instead of choosing them based on their interests," said Sithu Maung. "Hence, our education is strongly determined by our environment." The Asia pacific region has a large and growing population, which accounts for 60 percent of the world's youth. Of Burma's approximate 54 million population, around 9 million are estimated to be between the ages of 15-24. Opposition leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, said young people have the freedom to make their own future. "Young people can create their own world or make the world their own. They have the freedom and the facilities to do so." But there are many in the country who think that without improving the approach and access to education thousands of young people in Burma will not have these opportunities. "The education system must be changed," said Nang Yu Htay. "Since we were young we had to listen to whatever our teachers told us. We have no rights to express our own ideas and opinions." You can join the debate and watch the full programme in Burmese at dvbdebate.com Or share your views with us by commenting on our website at dvb.no

Reformist govt must acknowledge past: HRDP Posted: 05 Mar 2014 12:33 AM PST A Burmese human rights group has urged President Thein Sein's reformist government to create counselling and rehabilitation programs for the victims of Burma's previous regime. Human Rights Defenders and Promoters Network  (HRDP)  said that while the human rights situation has somewhat improved since Thein Sein's nominally civilian government came to power in 2011, progress is hollow without the full reconciliation of the past. "The current government – proclaiming that the country is now going through a democratic transition – must provide justice for the victims of human rights violations in the past, otherwise their reforms will not be regarded as fair or just," said Maung Maung Lay, an HRDP board member. Maung Maung Lay has suffered violations by the military regime first-hand. In 2007 Maung Maung Lay was savagely beaten by a group of 100 men acting on government orders in an incident that '88 Generation leaders labelled "proof that there is no rule of law in Burma." Zin Mar Aung, co-founder of women's rights group Rainfall, said that the brisk pace of reform seen in 2011 has slowed, blaming "negligent" government officials. Related Stories Government snubs National Network for Education Reform BIMSTEC leaders convene in Burma MSF operations set to resume, but not in Arakan "There are increasing challenges for the development of human rights in Burma. If the authorities cannot effectively deal with them, then the reforms are questionable," said Zin Mar Aung. However Sitt Myaing, secretary of the government-backed Myanmar National Human Rights Commission, says all human rights activism is welcome. "We appreciate the role of human rights activists as their work — educating the people about their rights — can provide a great deal of assistance for the public; something they can rely upon," said Sitt Myaing. "But in the meantime, their operations should be in accordance with the existing laws. "Personally, I see that it is necessary to build an understanding between the government authorities enforcing the law and the human rights activists." Existing laws, such as Article 18 of the Peaceful Assembly and Peaceful Procession Law, have landed many activists in prison, and have been highly criticised by international observers who claim that law is being selectively enforced against activists. Last month, DVB reported the arrest and pending trial of Nay Myo Zin, an activist who suffered torture and harassment in Burma's notorious Insein Prison before his release in a 2012 amnesty. Nay Myo Zin paradoxically now faces trial for charges under Article 18; for leading a protest demanding the release of jailed activists.

50 arrested in raid on Moehti Moemi camp Posted: 05 Mar 2014 12:13 AM PST More than 50 people were arrested on Wednesday in an early morning police raid of a camp in Yamethin, Mandalay Division, where miners and their families have sought shelter in a monastery since being evicted from the nearby Moehti Moemi gold mine. Occupants were repeatedly warned of eviction by authorities, who issued a 28 February deadline to exit the monastery, located on Yamethin's Shwemyintin hill. Over 100 policemen raided the camp under the pretext of security for a Buddhist festival at a nearby pagoda. Once on site, police detained over 50 people including children and senior citizens, according to the head abbot, who told DVB that those detained were taken to Yamethin jail, and that he witnessed no violence or confrontation. The Moehti Moemi miners have been protesting against the Myanmar National Prosperity Company Limited (NPPCL) since the private company reneged on a five-year agreement for a joint-venture with local operators. NPPCL later ordered them to evacuate the site, as the company changed course to court bigger firms. In late 2013 the miners-turned-settlers began negotiations with police, but demonstrations resumed when authorities refused to concede a new substitute digging site. Last week, leaders of the Moehti Moemi demonstrations took to Rangoon's City Hall to raise nationwide awareness about the problems facing small scale miners in central Burma, who in a recent trend are losing ground to large and international operators. Related Stories Moehti Moemi miners bring protest to Rangoon Govt urged to settle land grab claims by September Tenasserim villagers protest military land grab

Their hands, our future Posted: 04 Mar 2014 08:09 PM PST A campaign called, "Their Hands, Our Future" has been set up in Rangoon to raise awareness for children whose parents cannot afford to send them to school. Aung Nyein Chan and his team have collected the handprints of children around Rangoon and he aims to exhibit them at the National League for Democracy's Education Network art exhibition in April. "The purpose of the campaign is to highlight the children's future, which is the same as our country's future," he said. So far he has collected over 400 handprints. Last year Burma started free compulsory education for primary school students – a first step in educational reform. But many families, like Aye San's, still cannot afford to send their children to school. Related Stories NLD to sue USDP rep for defamation Government snubs National Network for Education Reform DVB Debate: Youth Voice special "My husband passed away and we have seven children. I can’t afford to send them to school," Aye San said. "Each of them has to learn four to six subjects and each textbook costs more than 200 Kyat." Education activists say free schooling is the first step but families need more of a support structure in place to help with financial difficulties. Nicholus Tint Zaw, nutrition programme editor for Save the Children, said poverty affects children's ability to learn. "When parents are in poverty, it also affects the nutrition of the children. Even when they are in school, they cannot use their full potential," he said. "To fulfil the free education aim, there should be considerations for all the sectors." The NLD has set up an Education Network, which aims to establish schools and educational access in under-developed areas. Aung Nyein Chan will show the handprints of all the children he has collected to raise awareness of their situation. "By showing the board of handprints, organisations inside and outside of the country, international organisations and the government would know about these problems after the exhibition," said Aung Nyein Chan. He hopes that if enough people highlight the problems poor children face, policy makers will be compelled to make a significant change in the education sector and improve children's rights.

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