NLD TRAINS MEMBERS ON HUMAN RIGHTS / AIDS AWARENESS

C O N F I D E N T I A L RANGOON 000461 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE FOR EAP/MLS; PACOM FOR FPA E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/04/2016 TAGS: PGOV PHUM BM NLD ASSK SUBJECT: NLD TRAINS MEMBERS ON HUMAN RIGHTS / AIDS AWARENESS REF: RANGOON 003 Classified By: Poloff Dean Tidwell for Reasons 1.4 (b, d) ¶1. (C) SUMMARY: On March 31, the National League for Democracy (NLD) completed the first module of its distance-learning "Human Resource and Development Program," an initiative of Aung San Suu Kyi. This course trained 96 NLD activists from throughout Burma. Embassy Rangoon helped the NLD plan the curriculum and obtain training materials. This program offers a good example of how we can promote democracy and human rights inside Burma, which we should expand. END SUMMARY. ¶2. (C) The NLD held a closing ceremony at its Rangoon headquarters on March 31 for party members who completed a course on "Human Rights and AIDS Awareness." The two and a half month distance-learning course culminated in a three-day seminar March 28-30 at NLD headquarters for 96 enrollees from 13 of Burma's 14 states and divisions. The NLD currently has no representative in Kayah State. ¶3. (C) The course was the first in the NLD's "Human Resource and Development Program," a project initiated by Aung San Suu Kyi before the GOB attack on her convoy on May 30, 2003 and her subsequent detention. Its objectives were to "promote knowledge, creative thinking, freedom from fear, and behavior change" among trainees. Various obstacles delayed the program several times after Aung San Suu Kyi's detention. Embassy Rangoon helped the NLD design the curriculum for the human rights component and provided training materials on human rights and HIV/AIDS. The British Council in Burma also supported the NLD course. ¶4. (C) The NLD did not invite officers from either the U.S. or U.K. embassies to the closing ceremony in order to keep the event low profile and to avoid the appearance that the NLD used foreign assistance to conduct the course. Embassy FSN political specialist represented the U.S. Embassy. ¶5. (C) NLD's Mandalay division leader, Daw Win Mya Mya, a survivor of the 2003 Depeyin attack, received the prize for "most outstanding student" in the course. In a statement at the closing ceremony she said, "Aung San Suu Kyi used to tell us about the 30 basic human rights, but I did not understand them well until I took this class." The NLD hopes to hold more courses in the future on topics such as infectious diseases, including avian influenza, malaria, and tuberculosis; and democracy. ¶6. (C) COMMENT: NLD's distance education program for its younger generation helps the party's leadership maintain contact with members living outside of Rangoon. Since the GOB forced all NLD offices to close, except the Rangoon headquarters, these courses help maintain morale among the party's rank and file and provide them with knowledge and leadership skills that will be invaluable when the party can operate nationally again. The ruling regime denies access to education and jobs to people associated with the NLD. This program shows how we can get around the regime to promote democracy and human rights in Burma. We will work with the NLD and other democratic activists to develop additional training programs. END COMMENT. VILLAROSA