Are the Changes in Myanmar Real? Reforms, Peace and Democracy

ISPD FORUM with Mr. Harn Yawnghwe

Executive Director of the Euro-Burma Office

Tuesday, October 28, 2014, 10.00-11.30

At the end of March 2011, the newly elected President Thein Sein surprised the world. He called for economic reforms, democracy, reconciliation and resolving of the civil war that has plagued the nation since independence, by political means. The international community took him at his word but skeptics remain.

Three and a half years later, what has Thein Sein delivered? Is there now peace in Myanmar? Have the Generals become democrats? Is Myanmar developing? With general elections scheduled for the end of 2015, what can be expected? Will the elections be free and fair? Will Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, the democracy icon, be allowed to become President? Will the reforms continue and will democracy become entrenched in Myanmar? Harn Yawnghwe will address these issues

Harn Yawnghwe is Executive Director of the Brussels-based Euro-Burma Office, which focuses on promoting the development of democracy in Burma (www.euro-burma.eu). After 48 years in exile, he returned to Myanmar in October 2011 to facilitate the peace talks between the Government of Myanmar and 16 ethnic armed organizations. He is now based in Myanmar, heading the EBO Myanmar Office. He is the former adviser to Burma’s exiled Prime Minister Dr. Sein Win and the youngest son of Sao Shwe Thaike, the first president of the Republic of the Union of Burma.

Location: ISDP, Västra Finnbodavägen 2, Stockholm-Nacka. For a map and directions, please go here.

To attend: RSVP to Ms. Pauline Dupuis at pdupuis@isdp.eu