NDI - Burma

Daw Aung San Suu Kyi's Leap of Faith

fgalleto — Tue, 08 May 2012 23:22:00 +0000

Source:

The New York TImes

Article Link:

Published Date:

05/02/2012

Aung San Suu Kyi's swearing in this week as a member of Burma’s parliament is an important step forward, but the struggle to establish a real democracy is not over. Aung San Suu Kyi, who has never given in to bitterness, has urged the United States and others to encourage more change by lessening the country’s isolation. Last month, she and others in her party won 43 seats in the 500-member parliament, but the military still controls nearly all of the government.

U.S. Policy on Burma

fgalleto — Tue, 08 May 2012 23:05:31 +0000

Source:

Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on East Asia and Pacific Affairs

Article Link:

Published Date:

04/26/2012

After decades of military rule and economic stagnation, Burma is beginning to institute political and economic reforms, but these are only beginning, Peter Manikas, NDI senior associate and regional director for Asia programs, said in Senate testimony April 26 before the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on East Asia and Pacific Affairs. The outcome is not assured, he said. The political situation is fragile and much more needs to be done to help ensure that the democratization process continues.

Drawing on his two recent trips to Burma – in January with a small NDI team to assess the political environment and again as part of a two-member U.S. delegation sent to witness the April 1 by-elections – Manikas discussed the areas the Burmese people and parliament will need to reform to carry on the democratic momentum, including constitutional development, establishing the rule of law, addressing ethnic conflicts and human rights abuses and developing a telecommunications network. “The challenge confronting the international community is in how to calibrate a response to the changes that are occurring,” said Manikas. “That response needs to support the reforms that are taking place and encourage further democratization, while also recognizing that the transition process is a work in progress and that the reforms to date must be expanded and sustained.”

Read the testimony»

A First Step on a Long Road to Democracy | April 2, 2012

fgalleto — Tue, 01 May 2012 17:39:16 +0000

The Jakarta Globe | Link to story »

Myanmar has been in the spotlight these days as a small fraction of voters went to the polls there on Sunday, in what many hoped would be free and fair parliamentary by-elections that could make opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi a legitimate voice in Parliament.

And, if things continue to go smoothly, we can expect a gradual rolling back of international sanctions as the country opens itself up to the world.

Link to story »

US to Send Election Observers to Myanmar | March 29, 2012

fgalleto — Tue, 01 May 2012 17:29:32 +0000

Agence France Presse | Link to story »

The US State Department said on Wednesday it is sending one observer each from two US-funded pro-democracy groups to monitor April 1 elections in Myanmar, citing a "positive advance" over previous polls.

It said it offered slots to the National Democratic Institute (NDI) and the International Republican Institute (IRI) after the authorities in Myanmar, also known as Burma, invited Washington to send two observers.

Link to story »

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US Says Observer Conditions Don't Meet Int'l Standards»

Manikas Testifies in Senate on Burma’s Democratic Progress

fgalleto — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 22:59:28 +0000

Read the testimony»

Related:

Published April 30, 2012

U.S. Policy on Burma, Congressional Testimony by Peter M. Manikas

fgalleto — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 19:13:35 +0000

Author:

Peter M. Manikas

Publisher:

National Democratic Institute

Published Date:

04/27/2012

Resource Type:

Testimony

Language:

English

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IRI and NDI to Witness Burmese Elections

rrunyan — Tue, 27 Mar 2012 21:14:20 +0000

NDI and the International Republican Institute (IRI) are pleased to accept an invitation from the United States Government to designate representatives to witness the April 1 by-elections in Burma (Myanmar). The invitation was issued in response to a request by the government of Myanmar. One representative from each institute plans to visit the country from March 28 to April 3 to study the conduct and significance of the polls. They will be Peter Manikas, NDI’s regional director for Asia; and Johanna Kao, an IRI program director in Asia.

IRI and NDI will not conduct a traditional election observation of the by-elections, since such a mission would require adherence to the Declaration of Principles for International Election Observation, which was launched at the United Nations in 2005. The Declaration is now endorsed by 39 leading intergovernmental and nongovernmental organizations in the field, including NDI and IRI, and was recognized with appreciation by the United Nations General Assembly. It sets forth fundamental standards for conducting international observation missions, including the need to observe the process in the months leading up to an election, and to deploy a significant number of observers to assess an election nationwide. The present effort cannot meet the principles set forth in the Declaration, and, as a consequence, IRI and NDI do not intend to issue election observation statements.

Both institutes look forward to being present during the brief period around the elections and to continue their engagement there following the polls. NDI and IRI will be particularly interested in how the experience of the elections can contribute to the conduct of national polls in 2015 and to broader reforms in the country.

Related:

Published March 27, 2012

IRI and NDI to Witness Burmese Elections

rrunyan — Tue, 27 Mar 2012 20:27:57 +0000

Author:

National Democratic Institute, International Republican Institute

Publisher:

National Democratic Institute

Published Date:

03/27/2012

Resource Type:

Press Release

Language:

English

Attachment	Size
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U.S. Wants to See More Reforms in Myanmar | Oct. 26, 2011

fgalleto — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 15:32:40 +0000

LA Times | Link to story »

The Obama administration was encouraged by Myanmar’s recent release of some prisoners through a “humanitarian” amnesty, but wants to see more reforms before the U.S. considers lifting economic sanctions against the impoverished nation, officials say.

Peter Manikas, Asia director of the National Democratic Institute, a nonpartisan U.S. organization that promotes democracy overseas, said experts disagree on how to interpret Myanmar’s decision to abandon a hydroelectric dam project that China had planned on the Irrawaddy River.

Link to story »

A break in Burma’s dam?

ntekeei — Mon, 03 Oct 2011 18:09:14 +0000

Source:

The Washington Post

Article Link:

Published Date:

10/01/2011

In the Southeast Asian nation of Burma, a country with a history of corruption in it's military junta and with suppressing nonviolent acts, there are encouraging signs that things are changing. This editorial in The Washington Post writes that, since Burmese rulers announced a new era six months ago, promises of reforms have been made and small steps forward have been taken. Even so, the editorial writes that the U.S. should encourage more substantive reform from Burmese leaders before making policy changes.

US Puts a New Man in Myanmar | Aug. 9, 2011

fgalleto — Tue, 09 Aug 2011 15:41:28 +0000

Asia Times Online | Link to story »

"The appointment last week of the United States' first special envoy to Myanmar, Derek Mitchell, promises to refocus US policy towards the isolated country after previous engagement overtures failed to gain diplomatic traction. The US has maintained punitive economic sanctions against the military regime for over two decades...

"He first visited Myanmar in 1995 while with the National Democratic Institute for International Affairs, where he met with both senior government officials and opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi."

Link to story »

NDI E-news: South Sudan, Burma, Tunisia | July/August 2011

fgalleto — Tue, 09 Aug 2011 13:51:47 +0000

August 2011

Newly Independent South Sudan Looks To Future, Permanent Constitution

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Children march in the independence day parade in Juba

South Sudan became the world's newest country on July 9 after a January referendum that showed overwhelming support for independence. Richard Nuccio, NDI's senior director in the new country's capital, Juba, was invited to the independence festivities and captured the celebration in photos. "It was an amazing moment and I felt very privileged to be a part of it," he said later during an interview on WPFW's Africa Now!

South Sudan adopted a transitional constitution just before independence and will soon set about crafting a permanent one. NDI will work with a coalition of women's civic groups from throughout the country to submit recommendations for the new document. The coalition wants to be sure that gender quotas for all branches and levels of government are a part of the constitution and that full separation of powers is addressed.

In March and April, NDI conducted the latest in a series of focus groups it has been organizing since 2004. This latest round explored South Sudanese attitudes toward independence and the future of their new country. “What we heard in the past was a focus on separation,” said Traci Cook, researcher and author of the upcoming report. “We found that they are now turning the corner and beginning to look internally.” Participants saw themselves as South Sudanese first and foremost, and want to move past tribal discrimination and corruption in the new government.

NDI President Wollack Reflects on Returning to Burma after 16 Years

In June, NDI President Kenneth Wollack traveled to Burma to meet with Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Aung San Suu Kyi and other leaders. Wollack reports that little in the country has changed since his last visit, but that Suu Kyi remains the unflappable and optimistic leader he met in 1995. Read more»

Aswat Community Connects Activists in the Middle East and North Africa

The Arab Spring uprisings have underscored the impact that social media can have on advancing democracy. As early as 2005, NDI recognized social media's potential and launched Aswat, an online community for those in the Middle East and North Africa looking to make governments more responsive, transparent and effective. Now, recognizing the additional responsibilities and challenges facing citizen reporters, Aswat is training them on journalistic ethics and professional standards. Read more»

Civic Group Invites Nicaraguan Citizens to Participate in Election Monitoring

A new website launched by the Nicaraguan group Ethics and Transparency allows citizens to report any electoral problems that might compromise the November national elections. Read more»

New Report: Political Parties in Afghanistan

Based on 90 interviews with party representatives and civil society, this new report explores how Afghan political parties view themselves, what kinds of assistance would serve them best and ways they might work together in the future. Parties see themselves primarily as supporting individual candidates, rather than an ideology, and focus their activities on elections instead of planning party strengthening activities between polls. The review also revealed that Afghan parties are highly interested in modernizing their internal structures and promoting cross-party cooperation. Read more»

Opinion Research Shows Tunisians Concerned About the Future

Six months into their political transition, Tunisians are concerned about high levels of unemployment, according to the latest round of focus group research conducted by NDI. Tunisians are also concerned about personal security, but are more optimistic about gains in freedoms of expression and association. Read more»

New Library Helps Liberian MPs Write Legislation

A new library and research service in the Liberian parliament is helping lawmakers write legislation. Among them is Senator Gloria Musu Scott, who wanted to draft a bill providing domestic partnership benefits for those in common law marriages. So she visited Liberia's new Legislative Information Service (LIS) to find how other countries have handled the issue and conducted an Internet search that turned up similar laws in several U.S. states. This type of information would not have been available until the library opened a few months ago. Read more»

Mauritanian Parliament Seeks Citizen Input for Social Security Reform

Social security is a hotly debated topic in Mauritania. The current system is expensive, and the government is facing choices on whether to raise taxes, cut services or restructure the program. Rather than operating behind closed doors, the parliament has sought citizen input, holding a public meeting and asking leaders from civil society organizations to weigh in with their policy ideas. Read more»

As Mauritanians prepare for parliamentary and municipal elections tentatively scheduled for the fall, keep up with the latest political analysis and developments by subscribing to the Mauritania Elections Bulletin. Subscribe»

NDI President Kenneth Wollack Returns to Burma, Meets Again with Aung San Suu Kyi

rrunyan — Fri, 05 Aug 2011 13:55:12 +0000

NDI President Kenneth Wollack traveled to Burma in June to meet with Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Aung San Suu Kyi, who he first met on a visit there 16 years ago.

In an interview, Wollack reports that little in the country has changed since the adoption of an undemocratic constitution in 2008 and sham elections last November. Still, Wollack says that Aung San Suu Kyi remains the unflappable and optimistic leader he met on his last visit in 1995 and it’s clear that her party, the NLD, is alive and rebuilding.

NDI President Kenneth Wollack visits with a family at an HIV/AIDS center in Burma.

NDI President Kenneth Wollack traveled to Burma in June to meet with Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Aung San Suu Kyi, who he first met on a visit there 16 years ago. Wollack also met with other democratic leaders, including the Central Executive Committee of the National League for Democracy (NLD), along with ethnic leaders and a youth network. He also visited an HIV/AIDS center run by an NLD activist and the Free Funeral Services Society, a nongovernmental group that provides free funeral services and basic education to the poor. Aung San Suu Kyi attended the 10th anniversary of the founding of the Society last April.

In an interview, Wollack reports that little in the country has changed since the adoption of an undemocratic constitution in 2008 and sham elections last November. The military remains firmly in control, and there is no movement toward release of the more than 2,000 political prisoners or serious negotiations with Aung San Suu Kyi and ethnic nationalities. Still, Wollack says that Aung San Suu Kyi remains the unflappable and optimistic leader he met on his last visit in 1995 and it’s clear that her party, the NLD, is alive and rebuilding. After spending 15 of the last 21 years under house arrest, she was released in November. Aung San Suu Kyi was the recipient of NDI’s democracy award in 1996. The award was accepted on her behalf by her husband, Michael Aris, who died in 1999.

What was it like to see Aung San Suu Kyi again after all these years?

As always, it was moving just to be in her presence. She is a symbol for democracy, not only in Burma but around the world. She seemed energetic and fit, and looked much younger than her 66 years. It was very obvious from talking to her and from visiting the NLD headquarters that the party has begun to regroup and organize nationwide despite efforts by the government to destroy it.

Sixteen years ago, she talked about a sense of isolation among the Burmese people and how much demonstrations of solidarity meant to her and her party. Vaclav Havel, who had nominated Suu Kyi for the Nobel Prize, has also spoken eloquently about this concept of solidarity during Communist rule in Czechoslovakia.

What did you talk about with Aung San Suu Kyi?

She spoke about international policy toward Burma. She believes strongly in the notion of engagement – that there should be dialogue with the new government. But she does not believe that engagement means providing assistance to the government or trying to legitimize it. Engagement means speaking to the authorities about fundamental democratic principles, about releasing political prisoners, about entering into serious negotiations with the democratic forces in the country.

Burma remains the only country in the world in which the winner of an election – a decisive winner – has been denied an opportunity to assume power. And so it’s a unique situation. She has legitimacy from the people, and despite the fact of a stage-managed election 20 years later, it has done nothing to de-legitimize her standing in the country.

What did she say about her life since being released from house arrest last November?

While she can leave her home, very few fundamentals have changed. She continues to be under enormous pressure, as are her supporters. The regime uses its powers to intimidate and harass those with whom party leaders and activists meet.

One change has been the creation of new, so-called nongovernmental organizations trying to present themselves as independent of the government and the opposition. It appears, however, that their goal is to present an alternative to Aung San Suu Kyi and to create the false impression of a new openness in the country.

What struck you about being in Burma for the first time since 1995?

The regime is still very much involved in suppressing ethnic minorities throughout the country. There are still massive human rights violations in ethnic areas and large scale refugee flows into Thailand, Bangladesh and more recently China. Internally displaced populations grow as the military increases its offensive against ethnic populations. The rights violations are so severe that the UN Special Rapporteur for Burma,Tomas Ojea Quintana, has recommended the establishment of a Commission of Inquiry into war crimes and crimes against humanity. Aung San Suu Kyi expresses support for Quintana’s efforts.

The constitutional changes and elections formalized the military’s hold on power through a civilian face. If you look at the official newspapers of the government, what is striking is that 16 years later the slogans and propaganda remain the same, as are the pictures of Burmese officials receiving visiting delegations from other countries. The only difference is that military leaders have traded in their uniforms for suits.

Has Aung San Suu Kyi or her outlook on Burma changed at all?

Referring to existing sanctions, she believes that policy should change only when actions on the ground warrant it. But the message she delivers is virtually the same. It’s a message of peace, reconciliation and dialogue. She also feels strongly about efforts to rebuild genuine education and public health systems in the country.

Suu Kyi has an enormous inner strength that reminds you of Nelson Mandela. The difference is that Mandela was in prison and then elected; she was elected and then imprisoned.

Did you take anything to give Aung San Suu Kyi?

The last time I met her, I asked her if there was anything I could send. She said, “Send me books on political humor, because if you lose your humor, you have lost everything.” So at the time, I sent her a few books. On this trip I brought her former Senator and presidential candidate Bob Dole’s Great Political Wit: Laughing (Almost) All the Way to the White House; Political Humor Under Stalin: An Anthology of Unofficial Jokes and Anecdotes; and Charles Osgood’s A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the White House: Humor, Blunders, and Other Oddities from the Presidential Campaign Trail.

Who else did you meet with while you were in Burma?

I met with ethnic leaders and a new youth network, which is made up of young members of the NLD, as well as those from what’s called Generation 88 and Generation 90 and Generation 2007. These are youth leaders who were active in the democratic opposition movements of the 1980s, 1990s and as recently as four years ago during the Saffron Revolution. They are now developing their networks around the country despite many of their leaders facing harsh prison terms for their political beliefs.

Is there a next generation of strong leaders developing within the NLD?

Yes. I would say that there are probably two generations of leaders. There is the generation known as the “uncles” that has been at the executive level of the NLD. These are of the generation of Suu Kyi’s father, Aung San, who was a revered independence figure before his assassination in 1947. A majority of the members of the Central Executive Committee, however, are of Aung San Suu Kyi’s generation or younger. The growing youth network will eventually play a leadership role in the party, although a number of the youth leaders remain in prison.

What else did you see in Burma?

I visited an HIV/AIDS center that is run by a young woman, Phyu Phyu Thin, who is associated with the NLD, although those who come to the facility are not necessarily NLD members or supporters. It is a very modest clinic where people stay for weeks or months while they are being treated. And they come from all over the country because of the care that they are given by Phyu Phyu Thin and her colleagues.

She, unfortunately, does not receive funds from international donor aid agencies because of her connection with the opposition, but it is extraordinary to observe the relationship between the sick and those who run the center. I met a family where the father, son and daughter of 14 months were all being treated; the mother had just died a few weeks earlier.

Can you talk about NDI’s work in support of the democratic movement in Burma?

NDI, since the time we visited 16 years ago, and others have tried to garner regional and international support for democracy in Burma, and more specifically for Aung San Suu Kyi and the NLD. We work with parliamentarians in the Asia region and Burmese organizations in exile to draw attention to the situation. On the border between Burma and Thailand, we train on coordination and political advocacy skills with political activists who can travel in and out of the country. Also during last November’s elections, we helped establish what was called the Burma Election Tracker – a website and mapping visual that enabled Burmese to report on the many irregularities that took place across the country.

Related:

Published on August 5, 2011

Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Women's League of Burma to Be Honored at NDI Democracy Luncheon Dec. 15

fgalleto — Mon, 06 Jun 2011 17:19:04 +0000

Author:

National Democratic Institute

Publisher:

National Democratic Institute

Published Date:

11/19/2008

Resource Type:

Press Release

Language:

English

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Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Women's League of Burma to be Honored at NDI Luncheon Dec. 15

fgalleto — Mon, 06 Jun 2011 17:14:20 +0000

Author:

National Democratic Institute

Publisher:

National Democratic Institute

Published Date:

12/12/2008

Resource Type:

Press Release

Language:

English

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NDI - Burma

Daw Aung San Suu Kyi's Leap of Faith

U.S. Policy on Burma

A First Step on a Long Road to Democracy | April 2, 2012

US to Send Election Observers to Myanmar | March 29, 2012

Manikas Testifies in Senate on Burma’s Democratic Progress

U.S. Policy on Burma, Congressional Testimony by Peter M. Manikas

IRI and NDI to Witness Burmese Elections

IRI and NDI to Witness Burmese Elections

U.S. Wants to See More Reforms in Myanmar | Oct. 26, 2011

A break in Burma’s dam?

US Puts a New Man in Myanmar | Aug. 9, 2011

NDI E-news: South Sudan, Burma, Tunisia | July/August 2011

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NDI President Kenneth Wollack Returns to Burma, Meets Again with Aung San Suu Kyi

Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Women's League of Burma to Be Honored at NDI Democracy Luncheon Dec. 15

Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Women's League of Burma to be Honored at NDI Luncheon Dec. 15