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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.
During the 10-day visit in Manila, the delegation received an audience with the Speaker of the House of Representatives Hon. Feliciano Belmonte, Jr. at the House Speaker Office in the parliament building together with Hon. Walden Bello, a party-list MP of Akbayan Party. The group visited the Commission on Human Rights and held a meeting with the Commission’s Chairperson Hon. Loretta Ann P. Rosales and two commissioners where updates on Burmese political development and situation of human rights were discussed. The delegation also visited the National Youth Commission and various government agencies. The party delegation was honored by a lunch meeting with Mr. Ronaldo M. Llamas, the Presidential Adviser on Political Affairs at the President Guest House.
The study-tour included visiting civil society organizations and meetings with various social movements, such as Alliance of Progressive Labors (APL) and Labor Education and Research Network (LEARN), Active Citizenship Foundation (ACF), Centre for People Empowerment (CPE), Free Debt Coalition (FDC) and Akbayan Youth. The group also held a forum on Burma for university students at the University of Saint Thomas (UST).
“We have learnt a lot from the experiences of our Akbayan comrades not only in the process of political transition and democratization from national to local levels, but also in the development of civil society and various social movements.” said Naw Maybel Htoo, the international secretary of DPNS-Youth. “In addition, when we met with the government leaders and political leaders, we could present our views on Burma’s current political situation and scenarios, particularly about our concerns on the ASEAN’s grant to the Burmese regime to take the Chairmanship in 2014 as we see it is still too early to give the [Burmese] government a credit as such. Because it is hard to say whether the regime has a genuine political will for political change toward democratization in Burma,” she added.
DPNS delegation at the entrance of House of Representatives, the Republic of the Philippines.
DPNS delegation had a meeting with the Chairperson of Commission on Human Rights Hon. Loretta Ann P. Rosales and two commissioners.
DPNS delegation with the Chairwoman of Commission on Human Rights Hon. Loretta Ann P. Rosales and two commissioners.
DPNS delegation in front of the Office of President of the Republic of Philippines.
DPNS delegation had a lunch meeting with Mr. Ronaldo M. Llamas, the Presidential Adviser on Political Affairs at the President Guest House in Manila, the Philippines on 29 November 2011.
DPNS delegation with Mr. Ronaldo M. Llamas, the Presidential Adviser on Political Affairs at the President Guest House in Manila, the Philippines on 29 November 2011.
DPNS delegation with the Commissioner of National Youth Commission of the Republic of the Philippines.
DPNS delegation meeting with the AKbayan leaders at the Headquarters of the Akbayan Party in the Philippines.
DPNS delegation with members of Akbayan Youth.
Naw Maybel Htoo gave a DPNS flag to the Akbayan Youth.
DPNS delegation with leaders of trade unions at the office of Alliance of Progressive Labor (APL) in Manila, the Philippines.
DPNS delegation with members of village council at the Barangay Kaypian.
DPNS delegation observed the feeding programme in a village.
DPNS delegation with children at the feeding programme of Akbayan in a village near Barangay Kaypian.
DPNS delegation was warmly received by community members in the village of Barangay Graceville, City of San Jose del Monte, the Philippines.
Naw Maybel Htoo and Naddy received a certificate of appreciation to the DPNS delegation, given by the village-head at the village high school in Barangay Graceville, City of San Jose del Monte, the Philippines.
Naw Maybel Htoo made a appreciation remark at the event in Barangay Graceville.
DPNS delegation with members of village council at the Barangay Graceville, City of San Jose del Monte, the Philippines.
A forum on Burma with students of political science at the University of St. Thomas, the Philippines.
DPNS delegation together with students of political science at the University of St. Thomas, the Philippines.
Zaw Zaw Htun and Toe Toe Tun joined a labor rally in Manila, the Philippines together with the Deputy Secretary General of Alliance of Progressive Labor (APL) on 30 November 2001.
