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In the fall of 2007, a wave of peaceful demonstrations swept across Burma. More than 220 protests occurred across the country between late August and October. On September 24, more than a million people took to the streets in 37 cities and towns across Burma, marching for freedom and a better life. Demonstrations between August and November 2007 have taken place in 67 cities across the country, in all seven states and seven divisions.
Although international media coverage has subsided, the pro-democracy movement inside Burma remains strong. Despite brutal crackdowns, mass arrests, torture and murder, Burma's pro-democracy political parties and activists continue their peaceful resistance to the brutal rule of the military junta.
Determined that the future of Burma is one free of the repressive rule of the military junta that took control in 1961, the International Republican Institute (IRI) has supported pro-democracy activists who are dedicated to a nonviolent struggle towards freedom and democracy since 1992.
Political Party and Candidate Development
IRI supports the work of the National League for Democracy in Burma's liberated areas (NLD/LA) and the Political Defiance Committee (PDC). IRI also provides training to members of other political parties in exile.
The NLD/LA supports democrats living inside Burma. Conducting political activities inside Burma is dangerous and difficult. Despite this, regular political meetings are held, small scale demonstrations occur, and grassroots organizing continues quietly. In a country where one is imprisoned for the mere suspicion of participating in political activities, these actions demonstrate incredible commitment to democracy and freedom.
IRI also supports the NLD/LA in its efforts to raise awareness internationally of the situation in Burma and the human rights abuses committed by the military junta. Through meetings with activists, politicians and government officials the NLD/LA has increased international pressure for change and added to the growing number of voices calling for an end to the military regime controlling Burma.
To better support the work of political activists inside Burma, IRI provides training to political party and civil society leaders based on the Thai-Burma border who subsequently transfer the information inside Burma. In 2007, IRI hosted workshops on media outreach, rules of political engagement and communication strategy.
In addition to its work with the NLD/LA, IRI supports the work of the Political Defiance Committee (PDC), an umbrella organization of pro-democracy political and ethnic groups involved in the struggle to free Burma. The PDC, a committee of the National Council of the Union of Burma, coordinates and sets policy for the underground movement.
Risking imprisonment and torture, PDC's underground activists distribute democracy education and civil and political society development information inside Burma. These materials offer an important source of information in the effort to educate and empower a growing internal democracy movement. In the past PDC networks distributed more than 50,000 copies of the United Nations Declaration on Human Rights throughout the country and in early 2007 distributed inside Burma 5,000 copies of a constitution drafting educational booklet to counter the ruling State Peace and Development Council’s National Convention. PDC networks also publicize uncensored information coming out of Burma. Information supplied by the PDC is used by pro-democracy leaders in exile, U.S. government officials and other pro-democracy organizations to draw attention to the plight of the Burmese people.
Youth Leadership Development
Developing the next generation of leaders is critical to the success of Burmese democracy. As such, IRI works with Thai border-based youth to cultivate future leaders of Burma. IRI sponsors trainings on civil society and liberal democratic rights to increase the understanding of NLD/LA youth activists about what a future democratic Burma could look like.
In 2006 IRI began a series of trainings on politics for Burmese and ethnic youth leaders. In July 2007, IRI provided youth leaders a training on international organizations, meant to introduce both theory and practical understanding of how international organizations operate, their constraints, and particularly their role vis-à-vis the pro-democracy movement in Burma. Past topics include introductions to political institutions and the role of civil society in a democracy.
In addition to trainings, IRI helps the NLD/LA youth support youth party members and students inside Burma who help organize peaceful demonstrations and gatherings. University students in Burma have become increasing active in the last year, publishing and distributing poems, books, T-shirts and stickers. These activities are important outlets for criticism of the military regime.
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