Tid og sted:
Mandag 26. april, kl. 14 - 16.
Litteraturhuset, Wergelandsveien 29, Oslo.

2010 will mark the first election in Burma for two decades. Aung San Suu Kyi’s party, the National League for Democracy, won those held in 1990 by a land slide. The result was never recognised by the Burmese regime and Aung San Suu Kyi has been more or less detained ever since.

This year’s election is set to be shrouded in just as much controversy. Recently released election laws, combined with the country’s new constitution, which was ushered in through a sham referendum, have created ground rules many argue favour the ruling regime. National political parties and other entities, including the armed ethnic groups, are now left grappling with the decision of whether or not to take part in ‘the only game in town’.

Against a current backdrop of increased engagement with the Burmese regime, all eyes will be on the international community’s response as this game plays out. Will there be an attempt to nudge the Burmese regime along a path towards a more credible election process? Will failure in this quest impact upon an increasing focus on dialogue with the regime from countries like Norway and the US?

To discuss the complexities of this upcoming election, and possible post election scenarios, the Baptist Union of Norway (BUN), The Norwegian Burma Committee (NBC), Norwegian Church Aid (NCA) and the Oslocenter for Peace and Human Rights (OC) invite you to the seminar:

Burma elections 2010: opportunities and challenges.

14.00   Burma and the responsibility of the international community. President Kjell Magne Bondevik, Oslocenter for Peace and Human Rights.

14.05   Supporting democratic development in Burma - Norway’s approach.
State Secretary Gry Larsen, Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

14.15  How will the election laws and 2008 constitution impact any political transition in Burma?  How may the U.S. policy of engagement and maintained sanctions be adjusted in light of these realities?
 Jared Genser, Aung San Suu Kyi’s lawyer and President of Freedom Now.

14.25   Ethnic dimensions in the run up to the election. Are the constitution and the election steps forwards or backwards for the ethnic minorities?
Nang Seng, Burma Campaign UK

14.35   Media’s role and responsibility in Burma.
Aye Chan Naing, Editor in chief Democratic Voice of Burma.

14.45   Debate reflecting on the topics raised above.
Moderator: Simon Rye, Director Oslocenter for Peace and Human Rights.

15.10   Q & A

15.50   Summing up; Key challenges and possibilities for Burma.
Professor Harald Bøckmann, University of Oslo, Centre for Development and the Environment.

16.00  Tea and coffee

Arrangører: Det Norske Baptistsamfunn, Den norske Burmakomité, Kirkens Nødhjelp og Oslosenteret for fred og menneskerettigheter.