NDI - Burma

Votes Without Violence: A Citizen Observer's Guide to Addressing Violence Against Women in Elections

jfrant — Wed, 21 Sep 2016 17:51:16 +0000

Author:

National Democratic Institute

Publisher:

National Democratic Institute

Published Date:

09/21/2016

Resource Type:

Toolkit

Language:

English

Electoral violence subverts basic standards for democratic elections, which are a cornerstone of democratic governance. Violence against women in elections is a particular form of electoral violence, motivated by a desire to prevent women as women from participating in the electoral process, and which sees women attacked for daring to enter or participate in elections.

For nearly three decades, NDI has worked with local nonpartisan citizen election observers around the world to mitigate violence and encourage peace. Observers play a crucial role in forecasting, monitoring, mitigating and mediating political conflict—including violence against women. The Votes Without Violence toolkit has been developed from NDI's collaboration with citizen observer groups around the world. It includes guidance and a set of practical tools and resources that can be used directly by observers and practitioners to monitor and mitigate electoral violence against women effectively.

Read the Votes Without Violence Toolkit »

How to Use This Toolkit:

The toolkit has two parts. The manual linked above presents the overall guidance that is essential for understanding and undertaking a gender-sensitive observation to monitor and mitigate violence against women in elections.

Each section of the manual contains a toolbox, with links to a set of detailed tools and resources that provide more detail on specific aspects of violence and the observation proccess. Readers can click through the links in the toolboxes to access each of the resources for a chapter.

For quick reference, a complete index of the tools for each chapter can be found here:

Access the Votes Without Violence Tool Index »

The toolkit was created and refined through extensive pilot programming, implemented and integrated into observations in Côte d'Ivoire, Myanmar, Guatemala, Tanzania and Nigeria. Check out the video below to see a representative from Acción Ciudadana, NDI's partner organization for the project in Guatemala, discuss their experience with the Votes Without Violence toolkit and methodology:

English

House Democracy Partnership Hosts Burma's Daw Aung San Suu Kyi on Capitol Hill

jfrant — Fri, 16 Sep 2016 15:09:36 +0000

Following the National League for Democracy’s (NLD) sweeping electoral victory in November 2015, Nobel Laureate Daw Aung San Suu Kyi made her first official visit to the United States as State Counsellor of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar. NDI has long recognized and supported Daw Aung San Suu Kyi’s efforts to reach this critical milestone for Burma/Myanmar. The Institute has supported international advocacy on Burma since 1995 and awarded Daw Aung San Suu Kyi its highest honor in 1996, the Averell Harriman Democracy Award, for her commitment to democracy and human rights.

In a fitting tribute to Daw Aung San Suu Kyi’s decades-long fight for democracy, the reception occurred on September 15, the International Day of Democracy.

In honor of the State Counsellor’s visit, House Democracy Partnership (HDP) co-chairs Representatives David Price (D-NC) and Peter Roskam (R-IL) -- in partnership with NDI and IRI -- hosted a private lunch for Members of Congress to discuss Burma’s ongoing democratic transition. HDP is a bipartisan commission of the U.S. House of Representatives dedicated to using peer-to-peer exchanges and training to strengthen democratic institutions and deepen bilateral relations; it reflects a strong bipartisan commitment to democratic development. The lunch was followed by a reception on Capitol Hill where the State Counsellor addressed a broad gathering of lawmakers, their senior staffs, representatives of think tanks, government officials and invited guests from the international community.

In her remarks, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi made the following key points:

The August 2016 peace conference was as successful as it could have been given the circumstances on the ground, and real progress was made;
The lifting of sanctions is very important for Burma in the long run, while clearly the issue is not without controversy; and
This visit reaffirmed the many close friends Burma has in the United States and on Capitol Hill who have remained steadfast supporters of Burma’s long road to democracy.

“There is absolute determination that democracy in Burma can be no less than it is in more mature democracies and, most importantly, that it must respect the will of the people. Thank you very much for keeping with us on this difficult road to democracy.” - Daw Aung San Suu Kyi

After decades of military rule and economic stagnation, Burma’s peaceful transition to the new NLD-led government is demonstrating, both to the people of Burma and to the international community, that the country has taken a critical step forward to a more open political and economic system. Expectations are high that the new NLD government will take advantage of this historic opportunity to accelerate reforms, demonstrate continued momentum for change and to promote peace, security and economic prosperity. Secretary Albright recalled Daw Aung San Suu Kyi’s early passion in speaking about the need for both democracy and economic renewal: “These are the issues that still dominate her agenda,” said Albright, “and she comes here to Washington representing the hopes of a people who are closer than ever before to realizing both dreams.”

NDI Chair Madeleine Albright joined HDP, and IRI Chair Senator John McCain, in honoring the democracy work of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi.

An overarching objective of NDI’s work throughout the world is to make democracy deliver by helping democratic institutions, such as political parties and parliaments, to address quality of life issues and to support citizen efforts to participate in development efforts that directly affect their communities. Effective legislative bodies are a key element in making democracy deliver, and is the focus of the House Democracy Partnership’s mission. To that end, NDI established a Parliamentary Resource Center in Burma in 2012 to provide assistance for Members of Parliament. During the last three and a half years, Burma’s MPs have made over 7,500 visits to the PRC to attend roundtables, trainings and workshops. In addition, NDI trained over 5,000 citizen election observers to monitor the 2015 elections, and provided technical assistance to our local partner, People’s Alliance for Credible Elections (PACE), to become the foremost authority in Burma on election research, data and observation. With USAID support over the next five years, NDI will work with the new parliament and PACE to deepen reforms in Burma as it transitions to a more democratic and inclusive political system.

Mindful of the many challenges faced by the new government, in March this year, HDP launched deeper cooperation with the Burma/Myanmar parliament to help strengthen its role and to strengthen democracy in the country. In addition to outbound delegations of congressional members and staff to partner countries, HDP hosts parliamentary exchanges by Members of Parliament (MPs) and parliamentary staff institutes at the U.S. Congress. These activities are reinforced by the work of HDP’s partners NDI and IRI on the ground, with support from the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID).

“What we want now is genuine empowerment. We do not want crutches anymore...We want to be empowered to keep on striving forward.” - Daw Aung San Suu Kyi

House Democracy Partnership Co-Chairs Representatives David Price (D-NC) (on left) and Peter Roskam (R-IL) (on right) welcomed the State Counselor to the U.S. Capitol.

Published on September 16, 2016

Johanna Zwerver

jfrant — Mon, 22 Aug 2016 21:27:56 +0000

Johanna (Ans) Zwerver serves as the National Democratic Institute's senior country director in Burma. In this capacity, she is responsible for the Institute’s in-country program operations to assist members of parliament (MP), parliamentary staff, state and regional MPs, and domestic monitoring groups. Prior to her time in Burma, Ans served as NDI’s senior country director in Afghanistan and before that, Sudan-Khartoum.

Before joining NDI, she spent three years as OSCE’s mission director for policy and planning in Bosnia Herzegovina. In 2004 and 2009, Ans worked as an election expert for the European Union’s Observation Mission in Afghanistan. In 2005, she was head of the field office in Qom, Iran for the out-of-country voting program for the Iraqi elections; that same year, she returned to Afghanistan with the U.N. Office for Project Services (UNOPS) to organize the parliamentary and provincial elections in Badghis province. She has observed elections in Afghanistan, Cambodia, Guatemala, Kosovo, Liberia, Moldova, Nigeria and Zimbabwe.

Ans has been involved in politics in the Netherlands as anactive member of the Green Left Party. From 1995 to 2003, she served as a senator in the Dutch Parliament (Eerste Kamer der Staten Generaal). From 1999 to 2003, she was a member of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe. She holds a master's degree in development studies from the Institute of Social Studies in The Hague.

Myanmar/Burma's Long Journey Toward Democratic Reform Begins

sruiz — Tue, 23 Feb 2016 20:16:17 +0000

The House Democracy Partnership (HDP), together with its partner, the National Democratic Institute (NDI), traveled to Myanmar/Burma in mid-February to meet with parliamentarians and political observers, and to see the new parliament in action in Naypyitaw. After decades of military rule, the National League for Democracy (NLD), headed by former political prisoner and Nobel Laureate Aung San Suu Kyi, is now in the process of forming a new government. Historic elections that occurred in November 2015 could begin a process that leads to a peaceful transition from military to civilian rule.

A snapshot of one of Burma/Myanmar's 30 parliamentary buildings.

The entrance hall of the Myanmar (Burma) Parliament, which encompasses over 30 buildings in a massive campus, separated from the public by a security perimeter and two bridges.

During the HDP visit, the excitement of the new Members of Parliament (MPs) was palpable in the vast halls of the parliament building in Naypyitaw. Yet the challenge of what lies ahead in meeting the very high expectations of the electorate weighed heavily on legislators. Most of the newly elected MPs have never held elected office, and they face the monumental task of meeting citizen expectations with no personal staff and limited resources. NLD members of parliament are being housed in humble dormitory barracks, far outside Parliament’s grand halls, and without basic support for fulfilling their legislative duties.

NLD International Relations Committee chair Daw Su Su Lwin captured the challenges of this delicate moment in Burma’s history by saying, "We are a young democracy and not fully, as you can see, adept at democracy yet. But we hope to achieve democracy sooner rather than later...we would like our MPs to be much more empowered and much more informed..."

Daw Su Su Lwin, Chair of International Relations Committee of the Pyithu Hluttaw (House of Representatives), discusses legislative challenges with congressional staffers Diala Jadallah, Legislative Director for Rep. Barbara Lee (second from right) and Justin Wein, Deputy Chief of Staff to HDP Ranking Member Rep. David Price (far right).

The HDP delegation also met with U Zone Hlal Htan, a representative of Chin State and the Chair of the International Relations Committee in the Amyotha Hluttaw (House of Nationalities). The HDP delegation met with the Chair and members of the committee to explore a working relationship between the Myanmar parliament and HDP. Areas of possible cooperation included:

the role of MPs in oversight of ministries;
a better understanding of the legislative process;
addressing constituent needs;
constitutional reform;
legislative research;
independent budgeting;
training needed to create professional staff.

The delegation also observed an official session of the House of Representatives. The salmon-colored jackets of the NLD populated most of the seats in the huge Chamber, and stood in contrast to the green uniforms of the armed forces. Under the current Constitution, the military automatically receives 25 percent of all seats in both national and regional parliaments.

International Relations Committee Chair, U Zone Hlal Htan, discusses the many needs of the new Parliament with the head of HDP's assessment team, Justin Wein.

During its jam-packed visit, the HDP assessment team also met with the People's Alliance for Credible Elections (PACE), an election monitoring organization supported with technical assistance by NDI, that placed over 2,000 independent observers in the field during the election. The delegation also met with civil society organizations, journalists, international partners, and members of the diplomatic community.

The delegation had an opportunity to visit the Parliamentary Resource Center supported by NDI. Since 2013, the Center has provided technical support to all elected MPs, regardless of party affiliation. At the Center, they have computers and NDI staff assistants to help them conduct legislative research, develop party capacity, and obtain technical assistance on issues of parliamentary reform. Over the past three years, NDI’s Parliamentary Resource Center organized more than 100 workshops and dinner discussions, and provided services to 471 of the 498 civilian elected MPs in both houses of the Myanmar parliament.

President Barack Obama and National Security Advisor Susan Rice meet with then-Speaker of the Myanmar House of Representatives, U Shwe Mann, and other MPs at NDI’s Parliamentary Resource Center.

Some of the most moving encounters during the HDP visit occurred during meetings with former political prisoners who spent decades in prison, sometimes serving multiple sentences, fighting to bring democracy to the country. There can be little doubt about the deep desire for democratic reform among the people of Myanmar. However, the complexity of the political situation of this beautiful nation and its determined people is reflected in this quote from a Burmese citizen: "Nothing's really changed yet, but I don't want to go back to the way it was."

Since its inception 10 years ago, the House Democracy Partnership has contributed to the professional advancement of members and staff through peer-to-peer exchange with 17 parliaments around the globe. These exchange programs, facilitated by the National Democratic Institute (NDI) and International Republican Institute (IRI), have engaged more than 675 members of Parliament and parliamentary staff in HDP programs. HDP is chaired by Rep. Peter Roskam (R-IL) and Rep. David Price (D-NC), and is supported by the US Agency for International Development.

Published February 24, 2016.

People's Alliance for Credible Elections (PACE) Election Observations Reports

jfrant — Mon, 09 Nov 2015 18:46:46 +0000

Author:

People's Alliance for Credible Elections (PACE) - Burma

Publisher:

People's Alliance for Credible Elections (PACE) - Burma

Published Date:

11/09/2015

Resource Type:

Statement

Language:

English

Attachment	Size
PACE Election Preliminary Statement - November 9, 2015 (ENG)	128.29 KB

Burmese Vote in First Open National Election in 25 Years

jfrant — Mon, 09 Nov 2015 18:32:59 +0000

Millions of Burma’s citizens went to the polls yesterday to vote in the country’s most competitive elections since 1990, and the first national elections in 25 years to see the major opposition party, the National League for Democracy (NLD), participate. Ninety-one parties registered over 6,000 candidates who competed for seats in the national legislature, in regional and state legislatures, and to represent ethnic groups in their states or regions. The November 8 elections were also the first in which international and domestic observers were credentialed by the country’s national election management body, the Union Election Commission (UEC).

While these developments are positive, several obstacles remain and must be addressed if the democratic aspirations of Burma/Myanmar’s people are to be fulfilled. The electoral playing field is severely unbalanced; for example, because 25 percent of the seats in the national legislature are reserved for the military, the NLD, in effect, will have to obtain two-thirds of the contested seats to obtain a majority. Large numbers of citizens, including the Rohingya, a Burmese ethnic minority group, were disenfranchised and a lack of transparency characterized the disqualification of several candidates on grounds related to their nationality. The constitution disqualifies the opposition leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, from serving as president because of her children's nationality, a provision apparently designed specifically for her. In addition, the constitution removed the military, police and border affairs from civilian control. The government elected through this process also will need to address the issue of federalism, which will be essential to achieving a lasting peace.

NDI provided training and technical support to four civil society organizations who observed the elections. Together they deployed over 5,000 observers. The People’s Alliance for Credible Elections (PACE) deployed its observers to a nationally representative random sample of polling stations to systematically assess the voting and counting process on election day. Because of the statistical rigor of its study, the findings are generalizable to the country as a whole. PACE’s statement can be found on NDI’s website.

A long line extends around the block as Burmese citizens wait to vote in the country's first open elections in 25 years

NDI also worked with Phan Tee Eain (Creative Home), a domestic women’s empowerment organization, as well as the National Youth Congress and the Ethnic Youth Network, whose observations focused on the participation of women, youth and ethnic groups in the electoral process. PACE and NDI’s other election partners will continue to monitor the counting process and the resolution of disputes filed by candidates and parties.

These elections are a preliminary step in the complex process that will select a new president and determine the course of the country for the next five years. Current parliamentarians will continue in office until the end of January 2016. The new parliament’s first task will be to choose new speakers and deputy speakers and to form an electoral college. That electoral college will vote on the candidacies of three vice presidents: one chosen by appointed military MPs who constitute 25 percent of the legislature, one chosen by the lower house or Pyithu Hluttaw, and one by the upper house or Amyotha Hluttaw. The candidate with the most votes will be proclaimed president and the two unsuccessful candidates will serve as vice presidents under him/her. A new government will begin office at the end of March 2016.

NDI’s programs in Burma are supported by the National Endowment for Democracy, the United Kingdom Department for International Development, and the United States Agency for International Development. NDI has supported international advocacy on Burma since 1995. Read more about NDI’s programs in Burma.

Published on November 9, 2015

Sandra Pepera

skincaid — Tue, 14 Apr 2015 18:41:17 +0000

Sandra Pepera is a career diplomat and international development professional. Before joining NDI as its director for Gender, Women and Democracy in 2014, she spent thirteen years as a senior officer at the UK’s Department for International Development (DFID), including leading programs in the Caribbean, Rwanda-Burundi and Sudan. Prior to joining DFID, Sandra spent time in British domestic politics; lecturing in political science and international relations at the University of Ghana; and as a political analyst in the Political Affairs Division at the Commonwealth Secretariat. She has a portfolio of skills and experience which include strategy development, political and risk analysis, diplomacy, general management and corporate governance.

Much of Sandra’s career has been spent working in or on transitional economies, focusing on the building of resilient and inclusive institutions. She led work on women and politics at the University of Ghana and in outreach public policy during the period of intense and unstable political transition in the early 1990s. This included participating in a program that supported the ANC Women’s League during South Africa’s transition from apartheid to majority democratic rule in 1993.

Sandra is a member of the Cambridge Sustainability Leaders Network, the Royal Commonwealth Society, the Global Board Ready Women initiative, and the International Advisory Board of the Commonwealth Journal for International Affairs (the Round Table). She holds the Financial Times Diploma for Non-Executive Directors, and serves as a trustee for the pension fund of an intergovernmental organization.

Taking Democracy for Granted

blesswing — Wed, 07 Jan 2015 19:35:03 +0000

Source:

Washington Post

Article Link:

Published Date:

01/07/2015

In an op-ed piece for the Washington Post, columnist Anne Applebaum argues that those who live in “functioning democracies” should be aware of how lucky they are and shouldn't be too critical of the difficulties faced by democracies in transition.

Drawing from the work of economist Esther Duflo on poverty issues, Applebaum contextualizes the global struggle for democracy by pointing out, “Americans and Europeans don’t have to write their constitutions from scratch in order to elect a government or change their entire court system if they want justice — but Libyans and Ukrainians do. Ask yourself if you would find that easy.”

Obama Meets with MPs at NDI Center in Burma

Thu, 13 Nov 2014 16:50:10 +0000

President Obama met today in Naypyitaw, the capital of Burma, also known as Myanmar, with 13 members of parliament (MPs) from various parties and both houses to discuss the country’s democratic progress. The meeting was hosted by NDI’s Parliamentary Resource Center, which is supported by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID).

At NDI's Parliamentary Resource Center, President Obama meets with (l to r) Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, chair of the National League for Democracy; U Khin Aung Myint, speaker of the upper house of parliament; and Thura U Shwe Mann, speaker of the Union parliament and the lower house. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)

Among the MPs meeting with President Obama were Thura U Shwe Mann, speaker of the Pyithu Hluttaw (lower house) and the Pyidaungsu Hluttaw (Union parliament), and U Khin Aung Myint, speaker of the Amyotha Hluttaw (upper house), both of whom represent the ruling Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP). The meeting also included Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, chair of the opposition National League for Democracy (NLD), and other MPs from USDP, NLD, Chin Progressive Party (CPP), Shan National Democratic Party (SNDP) and the All Mon Democratic Party (AMDP).

The meeting lasted for more than an hour and included a wide ranging discussion of the country’s democratic reform process, the capacity needs of the parliament, and ways in which the international community could more effectively encourage democratic reform through the legislature.

In his closing remarks to the press, President Obama said, “I want to thank the National Democratic Institute, NDI, as well as the work that we’re doing through USAID to try to provide some of the technical skills and resources necessary for what is a new experience for many people -- and that is, running a democratic process and having a parliament.

NDI is providing technical support to the parliament and assisting civil society organizations to conduct a citizen observation of the expected 2015 national election process.

In addition to USAID, NDI receives support for its work in the country from the National Endowment for Democracy and the United Kingdom Department for International Development.

Published Nov. 13, 2014

Empowering Women for Stronger Political Parties: A Good Practices Guide to Promote Women's Political Participation (Now available in Burmese)

fstovall — Fri, 21 Mar 2014 14:31:07 +0000

Author:

Julie Ballington

Publisher:

National Democratic Institute United Nations Development Programme

Published Date:

10/31/2011

Resource Type:

Manual|Handbook

Language:

Arabic, Burmese, English, French, Russian, Spanish, Urdu

English

Arabic

French

Spanish

Russian

Urdu

Attachment	Size
Read the manual (English)	2.49 MB
Read the manual with case studies (English)	3.45 MB
Read the manual (Arabic)	1.9 MB
Download the poster (Arabic)	1.18 MB
Read the manual (Burmese)	4.59 MB
Read the manual (French)	2.57 MB
Download the poster (French)	670.54 KB
Read the manual (Russian)	2.82 MB
Download the poster (Russian)	256.16 KB
Read the manual (Spanish)	2.59 MB
Download the poster (Spanish)	680.95 KB
Read the manual (Urdu)	3.74 MB
Read the manual with case studies (Albanian)	10.91 MB

Equal Access: How to Include Persons with Disabilities in Elections and Political Processes

dleonard — Thu, 06 Mar 2014 14:59:44 +0000

Author:

National Democratic Institute, International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES)

Publisher:

National Democratic Institute

Published Date:

03/06/2014

Resource Type:

Manual|Handbook

Language:

Arabic, English, French, Indonesian, Russian, Spanish, Uzbek

English

Arabic

Spanish

Russian

Attachment	Size
Download the manual in Arabic	2.54 MB
Download the manual in English	3.24 MB
Download the manual in French	2.36 MB
Download the manual in Indonesian	16.34 MB
Download the manual in Russian	2.37 MB
Download the manual in Spanish	16.87 MB
Download the manual in Uzbek	3.85 MB

Increasing Women’s Political Participation Through Effective Training Programs: A Guide to Best Practices and Lessons Learned

fstovall — Tue, 12 Nov 2013 20:08:23 +0000

Author:

National Democratic Institute

Publisher:

National Democratic Institute

Published Date:

10/23/2013

Resource Type:

Training Manual

Language:

Arabic, English, French, Russian, Spanish

English

Arabic

French

Spanish

Russian

Attachment	Size
Download the manual (English)	994.16 KB
Download the manual (français)	1.02 MB
Download the manual (РУС)	1.31 MB
Download the manual (español)	1.08 MB
Download the manual (بالعربية)	787.23 KB

Aung San Suu Kyi Visits NDI’s New Parliamentary Research Center in Burma

dleonard — Wed, 07 Aug 2013 15:05:08 +0000

On August 6, National League for Democracy (NLD) leader Aung San Suu Kyi visited NDI's new Parliamentary Resource Center (PRC) in the capital city of Naypyitaw.

Aung San Suu Kyi, leader of Burma's National League for Democracy, and Robert S. Pé, Suu Kyi's legal affairs adviser, at NDI's Parliamentary Resource Center in the capital city of Naypyitaw.

On August 6, National League for Democracy (NLD) leader Aung San Suu Kyi visited NDI's new Parliamentary Resource Center (PRC) in the capital city of Naypyitaw.

Although not yet officially open, the PRC is attracting the interest of MPs from many parties in the Hluttaw, or parliament. The PRC is designed to provide technical support to members of parliament at this early stage in the country's transition by offering a place where they can conduct research, hold workshops, and receive training. Aung San Suu Kyi is proposing to use the PRC for upcoming training for NLD MPs on the legislative drafting process. The PRC will host other single party trainings as well as organizing visits by international experts whose experience and expertise will be made available to all interested legislators and parties.

NDI's work with parliament is supported by the United States Agency for International Development.

Read more:

Published Aug. 7, 2013

Easing the Way Toward Democracy for the People of Burma

dleonard — Wed, 24 Jul 2013 14:23:59 +0000

Source:

The Washington Post

Article Link:

Published Date:

07/19/2013

Hopeful signs have emerged in Burma after decades of military rule, including the release of Aung San Suu Kyi and the partial opening up of the political system by the military. But ending military dominance isn’t the only challenge. Building a strong, durable democracy in a country where there is limited civil society experience and a “complex ethnic and religious mix” is a daunting task.

U.S. engagement in Burma must be sustained, and U.S. policy must take experiences of democratic transitions in countries like Egypt and Turkey into account.

“Organizations such as the International Republican Institute, the National Democratic Institute, the International Foundation for Electoral Systems and Freedom House are working to bolster the institutional capacity of political parties and civil society, fostering dialogue among ethnic groups and political parties and bringing youth and women into these policy exchanges.”

“Burma today represents a fundamental truth: No oppression can forever deny to people the realization of their core human aspirations. Ultimately, the dreams of the Burmese people will be realized. We should do our best to help them along the way.”

Former US Chief Diplomat Madeleine Albright to Assist Burma in Reform | June 3, 2013

fstovall — Thu, 27 Jun 2013 19:57:04 +0000

Irrawaddy | Link to story »

Former US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, who is in Burma for the first time since 1995, told the leaders of Burma’s political parties that the National Democratic Institute (NDI) is willing to assist the country in its ongoing transition to democracy.

Albright is on a five-day visit to Burma, arriving on Friday and meeting with Burmese political parties, ethnic leaders and civil society organizations on Sunday.

Link to story »