Youth for a New Society is formed by young activists aiming at achieving freedom, equality and solidarity of all the people of Burma. The founding members view that all the people of Burma have been confronted with oppressions by successive ruling regimes, various forms of social and economic exploitations and discriminations including gender discrimination. Therefore, the mission of Youth for a New Society is to build a peaceful society where all the people of Burma enjoy equality and freedom from oppressions, exploitations and discriminations.

An extra-ordinary meeting of young activists for democracy in Burma was successfully held from 2-3 February 2012 near the Thailand-Burma border. The meeting decided to set up a youth movement for democracy in Burma, namely ‘Youth for a New Society’ with 28- member organizing committee. The meeting democratically elected eleven members for the executive committee and five working committees to lead the organization and implement the organizational programmes.

The Democratic Party for a New Society (DPNS) received yesterday an official invitation for an informal talk with U Aung Min, the Presidential representative of the current Burmese government. In principle, the party agrees to meet with the government representative, but any detail on this regard has yet to discuss among members of the party's central leading committee.

'We see this [their invitation] as a positive sign and it is good to meet him since we have at all times called the regime for dialogue to deal with the political problems of our country' said Aung Moe Zaw, Chairperson of the DPNS. 'However, at this time of moment it is hard to say how it will be taken place and where it will lead to. At the same time, we don't hold any illusion at all and we will try to find any possible way to move ahead with our goals.' he added.

The 5-member delegation of Swedish Social Democratic Youth (SSU) led by General Secretary Ms. Ellinor Eriksson and International Secretary Ms. Emma Lidell visited the Headquarters of the Democratic Party for a New Society (DPNS) near the Thai-Burmese border from 2 December to 7 December 2012. The delegation held many meetings with the DPNS leadership and programme management team for evaluation of cooperation between the DPNS and SSU, and party-to-party relationship between the DPNS and Swedish Social Democratic Party (SAP) as a whole.

DPNS delegation with the Speaker of the House of Representatives Hon. Feliciano Belmonte, Jr. and Hon. Walden Bello, a party-list MP of Akbayan Party at the House Speaker Office in the building of House of Representatives, the Republic of Philippines.

DPNS sent its 6-member delegation to the Philippines for a study-tour from 20 to 30 November 2001. With the invitation of Active Citizenship Foundation (ACF) in the Philippines, the trip was organized in cooperation of DPNS and Akbayan (Citizen Action Party of the Philippines). The delegation includes party representatives, youth and women representatives and worker representatives from Yaung-Chi-Oo Worker Association (YCOWA). This study-visit aims at sharing experiences between the two parties including their local partners regarding their respective education programmes and establishing ties with women, youth and worker associations as well as meetings with government officials at various levels of administration in order to present updates and DPNS views on Burma's political development.

As part of the party's political education development programme in cooperation with Active Citizenship Foundation (ACF) from the Philippines, DPNS organized training on 'Media and Political Communication' from 21 to 23 October 2011 at the DPNS Worker Education Centre. Party members and students from party political school joined the training.

U Aung Naing from Inter-News based in Chiang Mai lectured on Overviews of Media in Burma and facilitated group activities on Content Analysis on the first day of training. Then, Mr. Jonas Bagas and Ms. Sabrina Gacad from ACF facilitated on the topics of Concepts of Mass Media, Media for Political Advocacy and Campaigns, Messaging and Message-development, Communicating the Message and Integrated Communication Plan.

Training on 'HIV/AIDS and Political Action' was held from 16 to 18 October 2011 at the DPNS Worker Education Centre. This three-day training is one of the activities in the 'Political Education Development' programme in cooperation of the DPNS and Active Citizenship Foundation (ACF) from the Philippines for party members and students of party political school. There were 40 participants in the training.

On the first day, Ms Jackie Pollock, Director of MAP Foundation, lectured and facilitated on the topic of HIV/AIDS and Gender Sensitivity and Saw Aung Than Wai, Senior Public Health Officer of Mae Tao Clinic gave a lecture on HIV/AIDS and Responsibility of Youth. On the last two days, Mr. Ferdie Buenviaje led the training sessions on HIV/ADIS Education Programme and Development of Political Action Plan for Prevention of HIV/AIDS.

'To bring about a real change in our country, we need to eliminate an obstacle confronting us on the way ahead. That is the "2008 Constitution" which is in fact to allow the military regime legitimately to rule our country. Unless we get rid of it, it is much more hardly to get on the right track towards democracy.' said Aung Moe Zaw, the Chairperson of DPNS

DPNS celebrated the 23rd anniversary of party founding day by organizing an event of political gathering at the party worker education centre on 14 October 2011. The event started with an opening remark by Party Chair Aung Moe Zaw. In his speech, he made the point that any tangible change has yet to be seen in Burma, and he continued by saying that 'To bring about a real change in our country, we need to eliminate an obstacle confronting us on the way ahead. That is in fact the "2008 Constitution" that is in fact to allow the military regime legitimately to rule our country. Unless we get rid of it, it is much more hardly to get on the right track towards democracy.' He also mentioned the party's support to the efforts made by Daw Aung San Suu Kyi for reforming the 2008 Constitution, democratization and national reconciliation in Burma.

We, DPNS, fully support Daw Aung San Suu Kyi for her initiative toward democratic opening and national reconciliation. We expect the release of the political prisoners and immediate ceasefires to pave the way to greater progress.''

Today marks the 23rd anniversary of the founding of the Democratic Party for a New Society (DPNS). We humbly salute those who have sacrificed their lives, those who have been detained in prisons all across Burma, including our leader Min Ko Naing and all those who have remained resolute in continuing the struggle for democracy over the last 23 years.

Today, we, DPNS, particularly remember and pay tribute to Ko Jimmy, Ko Zeya, Ko Thet Zaw and Ko Thet Naing Oo, our leaders and members, still defiant behind prison bars after almost 23 years.

An analytical report in Burmese titled 'Profound Crisis between Burma's newly-set government and ethnic nationalities' is produced by the Research and Study Centre of Democratic Party for a New Society (DPNS). The report made an analysis on the unique situation of Burma's politics of ceased-fires lasting more than 20 years between the military regime and various ethnic armed resistant movements. It argues that facade talks that overlook meaningful political dialogues will not stop the outbreaks of civil war nor ongoing fighting between the military regime and ethnic forces in Burma.

This 145-page report composed of 16 chapters details the context of ceased-fire politics between the military regime and ethnic armed groups which have been since 1989 and the regime's strategy of divide-and-rule in setting terms of agreements with different armed groups. Besides, it discusses the regime's attitudes and behaviours in this politics of over 20 years.

This report in electronic version can be read and downloaded at the DPNS webpage in Burmese (http://www.dpnsburmese.org/?p=2346).

Information and Public Relation Department

Democratic Party for a New Society (DPNS)

A seminar titled in "Organizing under a Repressive Regime: Sharing experiences of Burma and the Philippines" was held from 29 to 31 August 2011 at the DPNS Worker Education Centre as a party of political education programme, a series of joint activities organized by the DPNS and Active Citizenship Foundation (ACF) of the Philippines. At the opening session, Party Chair Aung Moe Zaw and the Secretary General, of Akbayan Party Mr Conrad Castillo, Jr. made opening remarks.