Tag: Burma
Student's experience with foreign affairs training
Try not to be self-seeking". That is the phrase that touched my heart when I was in the advanced English class in Taunggyi, the capital of Southern Shan State. My teacher, who was a deep thinker and well educated person, showed me the way towards working for the sake of our society. At that time I was trying to acquire English skills in order to study abroad and toil away in foreign countries. But as soon as I heard those words, I changed my mind. And some of my friends who were already in the opposition movement urged me to join them.
Foreign Affairs Training Program
The program was organized by the National Council of the Union of Burma - a coalition of Burmese organizations along the Thai-Burmese borders. The main aim of the program was to train political activists from Burma working in organisations along the border in human rights, democracy, international politics, and foreign affairs work so they would be able to effectively promote the Burmese democracy movement and human rights within their communities and abroad.
Support to human rights defenders and families of political prisoners
In Burma, the EPD has focused on assisting defenders of human rights and families of the victims of political violence. Working with Czech partner People in Need, the EPD has supported two Burmese organizations, based on the Thai-Burma border.
Press Release: European MPs Reject Sham Elections and Pledge Support for Daw Aung San Suu Kyi
The European Parliamentary Caucus on Burma has written an open letter to Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, detained leader of Burma's democracy movement, on the occasion of her 65th birthday. The European Parliamentary Caucus on Burma represents MPs from sixteen countries. The MPs pledged to continue to work for genuine democracy and human rights in Burma, rejecting sham elections due later this year. Read more.
Burma: the preparations of the election 2010
EPD has been supporting a project of Foreign Affairs Training done
by organization Education Initiative on Thai-Burma border. During a
nine months course the Burmese students learn about human rights and
democracy but also they are taught presentation skills in these fields
including writing articles on certain issues. One of the students has
prepared an article about the upcoming elections in Burma which we
would like to share with you. Read the article.
Czech Havel condemns verdict against Burmese dissident
Former Czech president (EPD note: and EPD Patron) Vaclav Havel condemned the 18-month house arrest a Burmese court imposed on the opposition leader and Nobel Peace Prize winner Aung San Suu Kyi today. Havel said he considers the verdict "scandalous" and typical of "the political cynicism of one of the toughest totalitarian regimes in the world." (...) The Czech People in Need organisation said the verdict was unjust and the trial manipulated. People in Need called on the U.N. Security Council to immediately adopt stricter restrictive measures towards the Burmese junta, including a global arms embargo on Burma and the establishment of a commission to investigate the junta´s crimes against humanity. Link to article.