Seminar Report The role of Political Parties in Democratic Transitions

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a) Basic knowledge about democracy and democratic processes b) Basic values and convictions relating to democracy – you need to believe in democracy to make it work c) Democratic Skills and Tools (needed for political activism) Moreover, the training emphasises both in-class teaching and out of class training where the participants visit villages, government institutions and NGOs and learn how to tackle concrete issues of concern to the communities. The training run for one year during weekends and is thus a very intensive training with end of term exams and written test. Discussion The discussion session was very lively and showed great interest in education on democracy. Many asked about the documented experiences and impact of the democracy school training and the ways in which the knowledge of the students can be disseminated further to benefit more people – i.e. through Training of Trainers (ToT) and community committees. Many considered what type of democracy education that would best fit Myanmar. The group work concluded that democratic values are universal and that representation, accountability and responsibility are centre stage in any democracy. Human rights of the citizens likewise. Moreover, the readiness to accept the voice of the people and hand over power is also essential in any democracy. 2.5. Closure of the seminar and workshop and looking ahead (plenary) By Mrs Ja Nan Lahtaw, Assistant Director of Nyien (Shalom) Foundation (Program and International Relations) and by Miss Khin Thazin Myint, DIPD/NIMD Programme Coordinator As a closure remark, Mrs Ja Nan Lahtaw thanked the participants on behalf of the organising institutions. She then went on to emphasize the following points. Challenging factor of Myanmar transition period: Myanmar society has been deeply divided as a result of protracted conflict that has been unresolved for over six decades. Currently the country is going through a transition from a military rule to establishing a democratic government. As the society has been divided over ethnic line, religious line and political line, the mistrust between different groups is one challenging factor to address during the transition period. The significance of the seminar: The seminar today is bringing politicians from diverse political parties and some government institutions and civil society. This is a significant step in a transitional period. Normally, people from different ethnic groups, religious organizations and political organizations do not naturally come together. During the very first Pyithu Lutthaw session, Mrs Ja Nan Lahtaw once asked some Members of Parliament whether they interact with MPs from their opposition parties including USDP and military representatives during the break. There was a fear to interact with those who are from the opposition parties due to mistrust with each other. That was almost two years ago when the first Pyithu Lutthaw session was convened. Today, this seminar is a witness that a dialogue between multi-parties is a value for building democratic society. It is significant that today, in this seminar, we have politicians represented from 47 political parties out of 54 political parties currently registered. The importance of political dialogue: Finally, Mrs Ja Nan Lahtaw expressed her hope that this seminar would be the beginning of a continued dialogue between politicians those who have different opinions, ideas, strategies and visions. Regardless of the differences, the trust must be nourished and further dialogue opportunity between parties will be possible after this seminar. Additionally, she concluded saying that the organising institutions do believe that a dialogue is an essential way to further develop democratic institutions and society. By Miss Khin Thazin Myint, DIPD/NIMD Programme Coordinator Khin Thazin Myint made the final closure and thanked everyone for participating and for the lively workshops and the good exchange of experiences and ideas. She hoped that each participant would 16
share their observations of the seminar with colleagues and other party members. She also reminded that the background document to the seminar is now available in local language for everyone to have a copy with them home. Acting as the local programme coordinator of this newly initiated programme in Myanmar, Khin Thazin Myint, stressed that she was looking forward to developing the relationship with each of all the parties in the months to come and she underlined that the parties should not hesitate to take contact with her. As part of developing the programme and deciding on the next activities, there will also be further consultations with political parties and local resource institutions. Biographies of international speakers and international organisers Thomas Cormier Mr Thomas Cormier is the Senior Programme Officer in Myanmar for the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (International IDEA). Mr Thomas Cormier has over 20 years of international experience in democratic governance and has been involved in Canadian provincial and federal politics for over a decade including being an advisor to several elected Members of Parliament. Working internationally for over a decade, Tom has designed and directed numerous democratic development and human rights projects and programs in a variety of challenging and dynamic political environments in Europe, Eurasia, Asia, the Americas and Africa. Mr Cormier graduated from Carleton University in Ottawa with a degree in Political Science and Economics and holds a Certificate in Project Management from the Regenesys School of Public Management in South Africa. Ignas Kleden Dr Ignas Kleden is one of the founding members of KID which stands for Indonesian Community for Democracy, in 2004, which is the first partner of NIMD in Asia. Until today Dr Ignas Kleden is entrusted to be the Chairman of the Board of the organization for two consecutive periods. He is also one of the founding members of several civil society organizations, among others the Community for Political and Economic Studies (SPES) (1988), Media Research Ignas Kleden & Associates/MRIKA, Jakarta (2001), the Go-East Institute (2000) and Center for East Indonesian Affairs (2000), Jakarta. From 1999-2005 he was appointed as the President of the Indonesian Committee for the KAAD (Catholic Academic Exchange Service of Germany), member of Indonesian Committee of DAAD (German Academic Exchange Service). He is an active lecturer at the University of Indonesia and a regular contributor of papers, articles and books on social sciences and political affairs in Indonesia. Mr Kleden has studied philosophy and theology, obtained his master degree in philosophy at Hochschule Für Philosophie, Munich, Germany (1981), and a doctorate in development sociology at the University of Bielefeld, Germany (1995). Shaun Mackay Mr Shaun Mackay is a South African researcher and political analyst. He has worked at the South African Institute of Race Relations (SAIRR); South Africa's first Independent Electoral Commission (which oversaw the country's first non-racial elections in 1994); the Centre for Policy Studies (CPS); and NIMD. He has conducted extensive research on South Africa's transition during the period 1990-1994 and constitutional developments and reform and facilitated the dialogue process with political parties. He is currently facilitating the Interparty Dialogue process in Uganda on behalf of NIMD. Chandra Kishor Lal (C.K. Lal) Mr C.K. Lal is a highly esteemed political commentator in Nepal. In 2006, he was voted the most influential columnist of Nepal. Lal has contributed several articles to academic journals and newspapers on democratisation, human rights and political transition in Nepal. His book, Human Rights, Democracy and Governance was published in early 2010 (Pearson, New Delhi). In 2011, Martin Chautari has also published his ‘vision paper’ on the future of Nepali identity, Nepaliya Hunala, along with commentaries by more than 20 of the leading politicians and thinkers of Nepal. Together with DIPD, Lal facilitated several multiparty dialogues in Nepal. C.K. Lal has studied civil engineering, public administration, law and urban planning in India and Nepal. 17
Page 1 and 2: Seminar Report The role of Politica
Page 3 and 4: The discussions during the seminar
Page 5 and 6: - Partnership: Partnership means a
Page 7 and 8: Political reform period (1999-prese
Page 9 and 10: The constituent assembly, however,
Page 11 and 12: Day 2: Wednesday 20 February 2013 2
Page 13 and 14: know each other at a personal level
Page 15: 5. What do voters in Myanmar expect
Page 19 and 20: Annex 1: Seminar agenda Day 1: Tues
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Page 23 and 24: 39 U Mai Ohn Khine CEC Ta-Arng (Pal
Page 25 and 26: 78 U Maung Kyaw Khine 79 U Sein Hla
Page 27: 115 Saw Lin Htein S - 2 Phlone-Sqaw

Seminar Report The role of Political Parties in Democratic Transitions

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