Wednesday, June 1, 2011

Foreign professors to give NLD members political science training

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Wednesday, 01 June 2011 20:05 Tun Tun

New Delhi (Mizzima) – Eight visiting professors from foreign countries will lecture on principles of political science at the National League for Democracy (NLD) during a 9-day training in June.

The lectures, which will run from June 20 to 28, are designed to increase members understanding of principles of government.

Kyaw Yin Hlaing of Myanmar Egress.
Photo: Myanmar Egress
Dr. Kyaw Yin Hlaing, an assistant professor of Asian and International Studies at the the City University of Hong Kong, and professors from the National University of Singapore and the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies will provide the training.

Central party members and four NLD representatives from each state or region will receive the training, numbering in total  around 80 people. The material will be presented in English. NLD central executive committee members Win Tin and Han Thar Myint will work as translators from English to Burmese and Burmese to English.

‘Since NLD General-Secretary Aung San Suu Kyi was released, she instructed both older and younger members including party canvassers to increase our knowledge. That’s why we are conducting a wide range of training, meetings and workshops. This will be advanced training’, NLD information official Ohn Kyaing told Mizzima.

Subjects will include research methods, constitutions, thinking in accordance with laws, theories involving transition periods, cultural anthropology and good governance. Kyaw Yin Hlaing discussed the training with Suu Kyi on April 26.

‘The NLD received an approach from Dr. Kyaw Yin Hlaing. He said that if we want our members to learn political science, they will help us’, Ohn Kyaing said.

Kyaw Yin Hlaing is a director of Myanmar [Burma] Egrass, which supported the recent 2010 election in Burma. The NLD opposed the election.

A cofounder of Myanmar Egrass, Hla Maung Shwe, is a vice chairman of the Union of Myanmar Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry (UMFCCI), which has close ties to the government. Similarly, Myanmar Egrass chairman Tin Maung Than is vice chairman of the Myanmar Fishery Federation.

Kyaw Yin Hlaing has published 17 research papers on Burmese affairs including ‘Challenging the Authoritarian State: Buddhist Monks and Peaceful Protests in Burma’. He is also a former lecturer at the National University of Singapore.

The NLD cooperation with Kyaw Yin Hlaing does not mean that it has changed its policy, said Ohn Kyaing.

‘Although we have not re-registered the NLD, we are cooperating on social work and in the education sector with political parties that contested in the recent election. This is also a part of our cooperation. Despite different political policies, we are ready to cooperate with other groups in some works for the same goal’, Ohn Kyaing said.

The trainees will take back their new knowledge to NLD members around the country, he said.

Since Suu Kyi was released from her house arrest on November 13, 2010, a series of training sessions have been given at NLD headquarters in Rangoon that include computer training, English language, journalism, agricultural principles and other topics.

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