Thursday, April 1, 2010

About SYCB

SYCB is an umbrella organization consisting of 15 students and youth organizations of various ethnic backgrounds. The SYCB is based on the Thai-Burma border and on the Burma-India border. It was founded on January 8th 1996 in New Delhi, India. The SYCB aims to promote and increase the growth in understanding and cooperation among various ethnic nationalities of Burma, and among its member organizations. It strives towards the achievement of democracy, the restoration of human rights and the establishment of a federal union of Burma. The Member Organizations of SYCB are:

1. All Arakan Students’ and Youths’ Congress (AASYC)
2. All Burma Students’ Democratic Front (ABSDF)
3. All Kachin Students and Youth Union (AKSYU)
4. Arakan League for Democracy - Youth Wing (Exile) (ALD-Youth Wing - Exile)
5. Democratic Party for a New Society - Youth (DPNS-Youth)
6. Karen Youth Organization (KYO)
7. Kayan New Generation Youth (KNGY)
8. Kuki Students Democratic Front (KSDF)
9. Mon Youth Progressive Organization (MYPO)
10. National League for Democracy-Liberated Area, Youth (NLD-LA, Youth)
11. Naga National League for Democracy – Youth (NNLD-Youth)
12. Pa-O Youth Organization (PYO)
13. Tavoyan Youth Organization (TYO)
14. Zomi Students and Youth Organization (ZSYO)
15. Ta'ang Students & Youth Organization (TSYO)

SYCB Aims & Objectives
• To strengthen the capacity of students and youth organizations of Burma
• To increase understanding and co-operation among the organizations in their fight against the military regime in Burma.
• To build mutual trust among various nationalities of youth for the foundation of the future federal union of Burma

All Arakan Students and Youth Congress(AASYC)

Background
After military coup in 1988 in Burma, the Arakanese students who fled to Bangladesh formed All Arakan Students’ Union (AASU) on November 1988 in Wakhet-Choung camp along Bangladesh-Burma border. When ABSDF was formed in Thailand, the Arakanese students stood as ABSDF (Arakan) to foster unity among the student groups of Burma to overthrow the military dictatorship (common enemy). We set up ABSDF (Arakan-901 regiment) both in Thailand and Bangladesh. ABSDF (Arakan) encamped at the eagle camp (Wakhet-Choung Area) along Bangladesh-Burma border.
In 1992,Arakan army led by Khaing Raza landed Bangladesh through Arakan. Border tension erupted nearly to burst between Bangladesh and Burma security forces due to landing of Arakan army. This caused great influx of Bengali Rohinga Muslims refugees into Bangladesh. Some students of ABSDF (Arakan) were arrested. Some fled into India for their security. In 1994, former ABSDF (Arakan) students and the students living in India first setup Arakanese Students’ Congress (ASC) in Delhi, India to fight the military regime by non-violence means according to the needs and demands of the political situation in India. One Arakanese student and youth conference was held in Bangkok, Thailand in October 1995 attended by students and youth representatives from Bangladesh, India and Thailand by the unanimous decisions and revolution of the represents, both ASC, ABSDF (Arakan) was abolished and setup All Arakanese Students and Youth Congress (AASYC) on October 6, 1995.

Objectives
• To struggle for democracy and human rights
• To eliminate any form of colonialism and dictatorship
• To liberate the whole oppressed ethnic nationalities
• To construct the national unity of Arakan
• To achieve the lost sovereignty of Arakan
Presently, AASYC is the member organization of SYCB (Students and Youth Congress of Burma), UNDC (United Nationalities Democratic Congress), and CNAB (Committee for Nonviolent Actions in Burma). AASYC is one of the signatory organization of Maetharawtha Aggreement, which is most radical signed by the prominent revolutionary ethnic organizations including the cease-fired organizations. AASYC practice non violence policy to thwart the Burmese military regime in alliance with the democratic organizations for a common purpose.

All Burma Students Democratic Front (ABSDF)

POLITICAL GOAL
The political goal of the ABSDF is to become a dynamic youth force in the democracy movement. We envisage ABSDF participating effectively and efficiently in the reconstruction process in future Burma. The ABSDF will be open for its members to choose their future participation whether it will be in political parties, institutions or the army.

WORKING PROGRAMS
1. Skill sharing and training for ABSDF members
2. Mass education and mobilization
3. Primary health care for local people
4. Formal and non-formal education
5. Foreign affairs
6. Alliance affairs and networking
7. Documenting and disseminating information
8. National reconciliation within grassroots
9. Formation of the Federal Army

1. Skill sharing and training for ABSDF members: ABSDF members need to be wellrounded people to fulfill the needs in the reconstruction processes in future Burma. Furthermore, during the struggle, a deepening of knowledge is needed to enable members to participate in community mass education. These programs include democracy and human rights issues, federalism, governance, media advocacy, women’s rights, public relations and public administration.

2. Mass education and mobilization: ABSDF has been attempting to educate and mobilize grassroots people on the border as well as inside Burma. We will continue doing so in various areas, as grassroots participation in the struggle is the main driving force to overthrow the military junta.

3. Primary health care for local people: ABSDF will continue conducting primary health care programs for local people. In most of the areas where the ABSDF camps are based, which are under control of ethnic revolutionary forces, successive governments have ignored villagers’ basic rights to health, education and social welfare.

4. Formal and non-formal education: ABSDF will continue to carry out formal education programs. These will focus on the children of local people and IDP’s who would otherwise have no access to education. To fulfill gaps in many children’s education, ABSDF has established primary and secondary schools in its camps and in front line areas. Informally, ABSDF frequently conducts adult education programs such as basic and intermediate English classes, basic and advanced computer training, and accountancy. These are for ABSDF members and other organizations.

5. Foreign affairs: ABSDF focuses on foreign affairs as a crucial area for the movement. Foreign Affairs is important to raise awareness of Burma’s political problems within the international community and to promote cooperation among the various Burmese and international organizations. It also helps secure financial, political and material assistance for the ABSDF and other organizations working for peace and democracy in Burma.

6. Alliance affairs and networking: ABSDF will continue to work at building and strengthening alliance networks with various armed and unarmed groups as well as grassroots organizations working for peace and democracy. We believe strong alliances and networks are essential for us to be able to work together cooperatively in solidarity for our common cause.

7. Documenting and disseminating information: ABSDF will continue documenting and disseminating information on the real situation in Burma to the international community. We believe the international community must be well informed to really assist the movement.

8. National reconciliation within grassroots: ABSDF will continue to participate in the national reconciliation processes by working together with grassroots. We believe mutual understanding of grassroots within various ethnic groups is crucial for us to achieve national reconciliation.

9. Formation of the Federal Army: ABSDF will continue to work closely with various ethnic armed forces under the Democratic Alliance of Burma. We considers it very important for alliance groups to have knowledge about the role of the army in future
democratic Federal Union of Burma, as well as to explore possible ways to form a
Federal Army.

Source: http://www.absdf.org

All Kachin Students and Youth Union

Brief History
After the military took over the power a bloody coup in 1988, the Kachin students and youth bad to flee to the borderlands. To be under one banner, we organized all Kachin students in exile and formed OKSO (Overseas Kachin Students Organization) in 1995, which was transformed as AKSYU (All Kachin Students and Youth Union in order to be more powerful with the participation of all the students who are inside and outside the country. AKSYU joined he SYCB in 1996.
In 1998, All Kachin Student and Youth Union Thailand branch was established in Chiang Mai, Thailand with Thai based Kachin Youth and Students. By the resolution of Executive Committee, we, officially extended to European Union Chapter of All Kachin Student and Youth Union on February 20, 2002. Recently in the September of 2002, AKSYU China branch was formed in the China border town of Laiza with member of its member from inside Kachin State. All Kachin Students and Youth Union (AKSYU) is currently a member organization of Students and Youth Congress of Burma (SYCB), United Nationalities Youth League(UNYL), United Nationalities’ Democratic Congress (UNDC).

Aims and Objectives

Political Objectives
• To restore genuine Federal Democracy and Self-determination of the Kachin
Nation as well as Human Rights.
• To cooperate with all other Democratic forces which have common objectives and
program to establish a Federal Democracy in Burma.
• To cooperate with other International Students, Youth organization as well as
NGOs.
Educational Objectives
• Every children from remote Areas should have chance to learn.
• Every one should be able to read and write the Kachin Literature.
• To promote the leadership skills of the Youth.
• To provide education grants to Kachin Students to complete their graduate and
under graduate course.
• To assist and support the following areas; Education, Health, Economy, Culture,
Religious, and Agriculture as well as to protect the environment and natural
resources.
Social Objectives
• To save the lives of drug addicted Kachin youngster.
• To carry out prevention of HIV/ AIDS with our capabilities
• To help and solve problem socially as well as spiritually

Contact Address:
A5/A-40, Janta Quarter, Janakpuri, New Delhi 110058, India. Tel: (91) (11) 2557-3840
E-mail: aksyu@hotmail.com, AKSYUthai@yahoo.com, aksyuEU@hotmail.com

Arakan League for Democracy( ALD )

The Brief history
Arakan League for Democracy (ALD) is a party representing Arakanese people that received overwhelming support of Arakanese people in the 1990 election. ALD was the third most seats winner in Burma and the most seats winner in Arakan state. ALD was deregistered unlawfully when it opposed notification (1/90) of then State Law and Order Restoration Council. As a result, party’s leaders went into exile in order to continue to carry out responsibilities assigned by Arakanese people with firm dedication and formed the Arakan League for Democracy (in exile) in 1994 at Harabun of Bangladesh. ALD has formed its branches in Bangladesh, India, Thailand, Malaysia, Australia, Japan and a liaison office in Netherlands. Under the guidance of party’s policy and that of leaders, Youth Wing of ALD (in exile) Thailand was successfully formed at a meeting held from December 30 to 31 of 2001. A meeting was held on January 20, 2004 to thoroughly evaluate and assess the activities of Youth Wing of ALD in the past years and stamped out below aims and objectives for newly reorganized executive committee.

Aims and Objectives
1) To help implement aims and objectives of its mother party ALD
2) To raise and produce highly qualified leaders for future Arakan
3) To forge a friendly and close cooperation with all other youth groups
4) To promote further unity and mutual help awareness among Arakanese expatriates

Executive Committee
1) Khaing Myo Khant In charge
2) Hla Htay Associate In charge (1)
3) Khaing Saw Tun Associate In charge (2)
4) Khaing Swe Thant Member
5) Aung Ne Oo Member
6) Nyi Nyi Htwe Member
7) Khaing Min Nyein Member

Executive Committee
Arakan League for Democracy (in exile, Youth Wing ) Thailand

Democratic Party for a New Society (DPNS)

The Democratic Party for a New Society (DPNS) was founded by the then students and youth leaders who emerged from the 1988 nationwide pro-democracy movement on the 14th of October 1988 in Rangoon, Burma, in order to legally play a greater political role toward the achievement o democracy in Burma. The DPNS, which was founded on then youths including students, played a very important role in the democratic struggle. Since its beginning in Burma politics, it has been recognized as a new generation of political force in the country. It has been at a vanguard position in the struggle against the Burmese military junta, which brutally cracked down on the pro-democracy uprising. Due to its firm political stance and its substantive policies based in the interest of the people of Burma where multi-ethnic nationalities co-exist, many young people joined the DPNS. With branches in over 250 townships supported by 1,500 organizers, the party’s official membership reached up to 250,000. At the time of the 1990 election, DPNS was Burma’s second largest political party after Aung San Suu Kyi’s NLD party. As a sign of its commitment to democracy, the DPNS did not campaign any of its own candidates during the election in order to build unified support for the NLD party. The strategy of recruiting their membership focused on youth in urban and industrial centers as well as those in the hinterlands. Preceding the election, DPNS concentrated on educating voters, securing political rights and campaigning for democracy. As part of their political strategy to build a united political front, they built an alliance that incorporated over 53 registered political parties. Because of their success in galvanizing such a strong coalition, they were heavily targeted in the military crackdown. After the 1990 election, all political activities of the DPNS were severely suppressed by the military regime, the then state Law and Order Restoration Council(SLORC) and a number of its members including some party leaders were arrested. Many of whom are still being held in various prisons in Burma. As a result, the DPNS Central Committee made a decision to move its headquarters into the liberated area along the Thai-Burma border in order to continue its struggle against the military junta. The DPNS was outlawed by the military regime in 1991. The party became a member of the Democratic Alliance of Burma (DAB) and then the National Council of Union of Burma (NCUB), tow umbrella organizations that are composed of over twenty political organizations including ethnic resistance forces. At present, the party Chairperson is working as the General Secretary of NCUB. Other ranking officers of DPNS have also been elected to high-level leadership positions in both organizations. Currently, DPNS have been actively building regional committees within Burma that build grassroots capacity to develop non-violent resistance and promote a national reconciliation organizations. Recently, the party successfully organized its Second Conference at which the party platform was developed and guideline policies were adopted. The new leadership of the party was also elected by secret votes at the conference. Accordance with the guidance of the party conference, the party’s women branch and youth branch were set up in April 2002. These tow branches as other party committees are independently running their programmes in line with party platform.

Web: http://www.dpns.org

Karen Youths Organization(KYO)

Organization Background
The Karen Youth Organization (KYO) was formed in 1989 to respond to the real needsof the young Karen people in Karen community. For many years, the KYO has performed valuable work on behalf of the Karen community, helping young Karen to develop their potential to work in and on behalf of the Karen community. In March 2001, the organization was revived, new leaders elected and membership renewed. Its leadership is younger and includes more young Karen women. Its role in the community has become more important for the younger generation. It is structured to maximize youth’s participation in and ownership of our entire programs. The KYO currently has committees at four levels, they are Central, District, Township and Village. We provide training in education and formation of youth, leadership & management, social protection, community development, community organization, political education and other relevant programs within the Karen community to ensure that local needs are met by local solutions. Our main goal is to empower and equip youths with skills which will enable them to respond to the ever-changing needs of the community.

B Vision of KYO
Empowering and equipping youth through democratic leadership & socioeconomic development for a better world for establishing a place of justice and peace.

C Mission of KYO
Formation and Education of young people, to play a vital role for a just and peaceful society.

D Aims and Objectives of KYO
We intend to empower young people to actively share current and future livelihoods in order to achieve the target of development. E.g. Environmentally sustainable, politically and economically accessible, socially just.

The following are our aims & objectives:
1. To raise the living standard of the youths by improving their physical and mental power through education and special know-how & skills.
2. To educate the youths about their responsibilities.
3. To maintain, upgrade, and encourage participation in the various cultural activities of the ethnic nationalities within Burma, while promoting fellowship and cross-cultural exchange.
4. To support the achievement of unity among the different ethnic nationalities, which are presently being oppressed.
5. To help today’s youth in becoming Democratic National Leaders.
6. To help establish democracy throughout the country while promoting the concepts of a Federal Union.Community Organization and supporting community development are the most important work that KYO carries out.

Kayan New Generation Youth (KNGY)

(1) Kayan is one of the ethnic groups who have been living in Burma since immemorial time.
(2) Nowadays, Kayan people are living in Phekhong and Paungloung in south Shan State and in Phyinmanar in Mandalay Division. They are also in the north of Thandaung in Karen State and in the south of Karenni region.
(3) Kayan have been raising hands against the Military junta ever since 1986, Kayan New Land Party was set up. In the 10th of December 1988, Kayan National Solidarity and Democracy league was established and two candidates from Thandaung No.1 and Phekkong township were chosen as people parliamentary members.
(4) Geographically, Kayan is in the region full of mountain and that is the transportation is in the state of devastation. Furthermore, civil wars are often engaged. In this state of circumstance, education, healthcare, trading, etc. are in a poor way.
(5) Because of the junta's oppression, ill-treat unfairness, exploitation and humanitarian crisis, Kayan younger generation are fumbling through hardship in its neighbouring country and setting up its youth organization for all younger generation

Objectives
(1) To bring multi-party democracy into existence in Burma.
(2) To bring Self-determination and Federation Union into existence.
(3) To bring Self-administration into existence to the people.
(4) To create consolidation.
(5) To reunite the Kayan people to form unity.
(6) To cherish Kayan literature and customs.
(7) To promote the standard of education, healthcare and welfare for all the people.
(8) To educate the people to understand Human Right and Environment Right in democratic way.

Kuki Students Democratic Fornt(KSDF)

Brief History
From time immemorial, the Kuki were inhabitants of their own fore-fatherland which along the sides of the Chindwin River (Twilen) of present Burma and the hill areas or present Manipur State, India. The Kuki are a peace and freedom-loving people. They rose up in the rebellion can be judged from the fact that if affected all the Kuki inhabited areas. Due to their superior arms, the British were able to subjugate the Kuki after a long drown-out struggle of three years (in 1917-1919). So many Kukis of the war leaders were arrested to Taungyi jail and Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Henceforth, the Kukis lived under the sovereignty of the British Colonial rule. The Kuki inhabited areas were also divided into two parts; the eastern region became under the rule of Burma and the western under the rule of Assam State of India, according to the “divide and rule policy” of the British. When the British government offered independence to their colonies, after the WWII, the Kuki leaders signed freedom from the British government and agreed to with together with the Burmese under the leadership of General Aung San who is he father of Burma’s independence.
Unfortunately, when Burma gained independence, the Kuki were neglected and all their contributions were forgotten. “Divide and rule policy” was followed among the Kuki people. Both the parliamentary democracy government and BSPP (Burma Socialist Programme Party) period, the Burmans of upper Burma and lover Burma were settled in the Kuki areas to swallow their cultural and religious of Kuki peoples. There was a coup-de-tat in 1988 by the military junta, whereby the hardship of the Kuki multiplied, following a policy of Burmanization, the government populated the land which had been hither to belonged to the Kuki for generations, with Burmese immigrants, threatening to swallow their religion, culture and nation. One of the worst affected following he establishment of military rule were subjected to secant torture, flogging and rampant violation of the Kuki basic human rights. The innocent Kuki masses thus suffered intolerable harassment under the military junta. In human fate mated out to force pro-democracy of Kuki youth and many Kukis to take refuge inside Indian and where they began to setup to fight against the military junta and to restore democracy in Burma among the oversea Kuki students and youth. Thus, the KSDF(B) The Kuki Students’ Democratic Front (Burma) was born on 12th December 1993.

Aims and Objectives
• To fight against the military junta to the end; and to establish a genuine federal
democracy in Burma
• To create Kuki State in the habited land areas of Kuki forefathers so that the Kuki
people will be able to get national security for socio-economic, culture, religion
and national rights.
• To establish national solidarity among the Kuki people
• To get peace and development of Kuki people to the whole country in future
Burma

Contact addresses:
• Delhi Branch: WZ-87(A), Bodella Market, Vikaspuri, New Delhi 110018, India
Telephone:011-25572572 E-mail: ksdfhq@yahoo.co.inlulun12002@gmail.com,
• Moreh Branch: Ward No. 3, Dalpati Road, Near Morning Bazaar, Moreh, Manipur
795131, India Telephone:03873-261667
• Korea branch: Mr. Chuchung Kuki, 872-10 ShiHung Bon Dong, Kum Chun Gu,
Seoul, South Korea E-mail: chuchung2003@yahoo.com

Mon Youth Progressive Organization(MYPO)

Background
The Mon Youth Progressive Organization was formed in June 1999 based in three areas: Thanphuzayat, Mudon and Hladakot townships. The MYPO has extended its activities to Ye and Kyaik Maraw townships. Before the New Mon State Party reached a cease-fire agreement with the SYCP, many current members of the MYPO worked with the NMSP’s Party Affairs Department ad a clandestine network. We took responsibility to share information about the NMSP’s activities and obtain supplies for the party. After the NMSP reached cease-fire with the SPDC, we changed our tactics and strategy. We tries to make our organization as independent organization. We opened our main office in Hladakok Township in an NMSP-controlled area in January 2000. The MYPO members are students, teachers and youth in different areas. We have approximately 130 members including 20 members along the Thai-Burma border.
The MYPO mostly focuses on it activities inside Mon State both under the NMSP and regime-controlled areas. Although it is sometimes difficulties to work inside, the MYPO manages to carry out its activities in various ways. The MYPO joined the Student Youth Congress of Burma (SYCB) in August 2001 in order to co-operate with other ethnic youth organization to build understanding for the national reconciliation of future Burma. After we joined the SYCB, we opened a branch office in Sangkhlaburi to work with the SYCB and other ethnic organizations easily. We also intend to use this office for holding training and other workshops.
The main objectives of the MYPO are as follows:
• To build a civil society
• To support democracy and federal movement
• To preserve and flourish literacy and culture
• To support the national freedom struggle
• To build unity among different youth
• To eliminate the dictatorship

Contact address: P.O. Box 26, Sangkhlaburi, Kanchanaburi 71240, ThailandTel: 034- 595614, Fax: 034-595336, E-mail: mypo_office@yahoo.com, banyamon@yahoo.com,

Naga Youth Organization(NYO)

Introduction
In the backdrop of human rights violations, forced labor, forced dislocation, forced conscription and forced conversions perpetrated by the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC) forces against the Nagas in the Sagaing Division, youths collectively came together to raise these concern and formed the Naga Youth Organization (NYO) on 2nd October 2002 in New Delhi. The NYO initially was formed under the auspices of Naga National League for Democracy (NNLD) the sole Naga political organization which is actively working from locations in India fro the restoration of Democracy in Burma. However the NYO is purely a non-political entity but a youth organization. The NYO is formed also to highlight and generate interaction amongst the Naga youths. We also look forward to make our voices heard as well as strengthen solidarity among the various ethnic nationalities that are working for the estoration of democracy in Burma {Myanmar}. We believe that only when a treaty of democratic transition takes place in Burma, the rights of the minority ethnic groups will be safeguarded under just democratic Laws. Therefore, with strong faith in democracy and its principles we pledged to work for the fulfillment of a future democratic Burma. Brief Background of the Nagas The Nagas are a peace – loving indigenous people, a powerful race , belonging to the SinoMongolian family making up the population tapestry of South-East Asian hills people. Lingusitically, they have mutually un-intelligible dialects from tribe-to tribe, though all are derivations from the Tibeto-Buman group. Each Naga villages were an independent nation state before the advent of the British colonialist. The Naga inhibited areas was divided into two parts by the British during the period between 1935 and 1945. One-third of the Naga terriotyry was placed under the Burmese administration. Two thirds of the Naga areas were gven to Government of India.
The Nagas occupy a mountainous territory of 1, 000,000 sq.km in size. The religions interactions of Nagas with Christianity are an important factor in producing cultural configuration and political consciousness. In 1830s the British invited the first US Baptist Missionaries into the Naga areas. It is speculated that the British wanted to consolidate its rule and legitimize its presence in the Naga areas. However, finding the missionaries encouraging the Nagas to uphold the principle of equality the British out rightly changed their policies towards the Nagas. Today, the Nagas are about 5 millions people and more than 40 tribes living under two different administrative units – ie. India and Burma.
Other than the present Nagaland state in India, Nagas inhabit the Naga Hills of Manipur (district of Senapati, Tamenglong, Ukhrul and Chandel), in the North Cachar, Mikhir Hills, Lakhimpur, Nagaon and Sibsagar districts of Assam, in the North-Eastof Arunachal Pradesh, and in the Naga Hills which are now divided into five townshipsin the north of Sagaing Division by the Burmese government for conveniences of administration. The five townships are:
(1) Homalin township
(2) Namyun to township
(3) Lahe township
(4) Layshit township
(5) Hkamti township

Aims and Objectives
1. To represent the voices of the Naga Youth presently living in Burma.
2. To strive for cultural, economic, environmental and political justice of the Nagas.
3. To seek for a democratic and just solution to the Naga Political process.
4. To promote self-reliance and self-assertion as the working principle of the Naga Youth.
5. To struggle for basic human rights as enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
6. To support all democratic movements around Burma in particular and the world in general.
7. To express and encourage solidarity among all struggling peoples in Burma.

Our Activities
Since its inception, the NYOU has participated in various conferences and training such
as:
- Foreign Affairs Training (December 2002-January 2004).
- World Social Forum (17th – 21st December 2003).
- Advanced English Speaking course (October- December 2003).
- Burma IT ( November 2003- January 2004).
- Workshop on “Structural Analysis Natural Resource Management”(Feb-2004).
- Web-designing Computer course (February-May 2004).

Our contact address is :
Naga Youth Organization JG-III, Third Floor,
Vikaspuri,
New Delhi- 110018.
INDIA E-mail: nagayouth@yahoo.co.in
Tel: 91-9891484537

National League for Democracy — Liberated Areas (Youth) NLD-LA (Y)

BACKGROUND
The National League for Democracy, was founded by Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and other leaders on 27, September 1988 after peaceful pro-democracy demonstrations nationwide. The National League for Democracy (Youth) was formed on 18 November 1988 under the leadership of U Tin Oo and Daw Aung Sun Suu Kyi, with 19 NLD’s youth members. And then all the members of NLD’s youth participated in the politic and organizational work of the NLD throughout the whole Country.
In the May 1990 general elections, the NLD won 82% of the seats contested, but the military junta did not transfer power and imprisoned several NLD members. So some of the veteran NLD leaders, elected MPs and youth leaders left and founded the NLD (LA)at Manerplaw on 14 February 1991. Today they are continuing to try to bring about the restoration of democracy and Human Rights in Burma. NLD-LA (Youth) was stablished on 7 July 1996. The Central Youth Working Group (Temporary) of NLD-LA Youth) was reformed on 16 December, 1996 in a joint meeting (3/96) of the Central Executive Committee and Central Youth Working Group of NLD-LA (Youth) held at its Headquarters.

OBJECTIVES
• To cultivate a new generation of experienced and qualified leaders in new generation.
• To implement effectively the activities of NLD/LA in accordance with its basic principles.

BASIC PRINCIPLE
• We firmly follow the leadership of NLD/LA which is functioning in its all activities in accordance with the basic principles of the National League for Democracy.

ACTIVITIES
• To train all the members of NLD/LA’s youth for their physical, educational, social, moral and welfare development.
• To work together with all Students and Youth Unions, Pro-democratic groups and ethnic groups.
• To assist and work for world-peace by establishing good and warm relations with international youth groups and Student Organizations.
• To respect and secure the rights of all Human beings according to the Universal Declaration Promulgates Human Rights by the United Nations.
• To carry out the duties and responsibilities as detects activists in implementing the basic principles of the NLD/LA.

Web: http://www.nldla.com

Pa-O Youth Organization (PYO)

Pa-O Youth Organization’s Background
The Pa-O youth organization was formed by Phraton TetLu on the 4th of December, 1998. It began as the Pa-O Youth Democratic Organization. After evaluating the first year’s activities, monks, former Pa-O youths representatives and Pa-O youths from different liberated areas decided to extend and reform the Pa-O Youth Democratic Organization and it became the Pa-O Youth Organization instead on December 18, 1999. Central Executive Committee members were successfully elected on the 21st of January 2000.

Mission:
To empower Pa-O youth, to build greater unity among the Pa-O people as well as
other difference ethnic Group.

Aims and objectives
1. To promote Pa-0 literature and culture.
2. To improve the lives of the Pa-0 people.
3. To educate the Pa-O people regarding democracy, human rights and the environment.
4. To promote greater unity among the Pa-O people.
5. To promote the quality and creatable thinking of Pa-O youth.
6. To join hands with other democratic movements striving for common aims.
7. To build greater unity among the different ethnic nationalities groups.
8. To build up a federal union in Burma with equality for all and full rights of self-determination.
In order to implement and achieve the aims and objectives of the activities, we have broken down our activities into six categories. Those are:
1. Organizing
2. Health
3. Pa-O literature and culture
4. News and Information
5. Human Rights and Environment

Activities
1. Organizing
Trips will be organized to areas populated primarily by Pa-O people. Organizing discussion groups with Pa-O youths living in liberated areas so that the youth can expand their knowledge and ideas as well as build important friendships.
Establishing youth branches where there are Pa-O majorities.
2. Health
Assisting Pa-O people with their health problems when possible. Assisting those who are interested with attending health and medical trainings. In the midst of trying to organize a health and medical training.
3. literature and culture.
Opening Pa-O language School so that Pa-O nationals can be educated in their mother tongue. Celebrating Pa-O traditional culture by putting on special Pa-O events. Preserving Pa-O literature and cultural heritage.
4. News and information
Publishing pamphlets and magazines.
Collecting Pa-O news or information.
Likewise, collecting the news about other ethnicities in Burma.
Publishing the most appropriate news that is received.
5. Human Rights and Environment
Educate Pa-O people about human rights and environment by giving training.

Pa-O Youth Organization (PYO)
P.O Box 134, Mae Sot, Tak, 63110, Thailand. Email: unitynews2002@yahoo.com, Phone: 055 533 115

Ta’ang Students and Youth Organization (TSYO)

MISSION

The Ta’ang Students and Youth Organization (TSYO) is working for peace, justice, to build a Democratic country, and to improve the lives of Ta’ang students, youth, and all people.

GOALS

1. To work for peace and to develop the Ta’ang region.
2. To increase the number of Ta’ang youth who can participate as leaders.
3. To promote gender equality.
4. To end the military dictatorship system.
5. To build a federalist democratic country with equality and self-determination.

OBJECTIVES

1. To promote the social status of the whole Ta’ang nationality and students and young Ta’ang through youth capacity building training.
2. To cooperate with democratic organizations and national revolution moments, international youth and women’s organizations, Students and Youth Congress and our people for the struggle.
3. To implement the activities to preserve and encourage the value of culture, literature, traditions and national identity of the Ta’ang people.
4. To implement the activities for fighting against the drug dispersion in the Ta’ang region.
5. To provide education and increase awareness of health care issues to fight the health predicament of the Ta’ang people.
6. To advocate the international community and alliance groups to protect Ta’ang people and reduce the human right violations in the Ta’ang region.
7. To safeguard the environment and natural resources of the Ta’ang people and Ta’ang land.
8. To implement the working plan to encourage the ability of Ta’ang youth on education.
9.To implement the work plan to organize to get more support from the Ta’ang people.
10.To work against the activities of the military dictatorship system.

ORGANIZATION PROFILE

In 1963, the Palaung State Liberation Party, PSLP started to fight for self-determination and equal rights for Ta’ang (Palaung) people. In 1991, they made a cease-fire with the Burmese regime. However, some PSLP leaders who were dissatisfied and didn’t accept the cease-fire agreement formed the Palaung State Liberation Front (PSLF) in the Karen area in Manaplaw in 1992.
Some of the PSLF members wanted to support the Ta’ang youth, and established the Palaung Students and Youth Organization (PSYO) on the Thai-Burma border in 1993. The name was changed to the Palaung Youth Network Group (PYNG) during the second meeting on 27 December, 1998.
In March 2007, the first Congress (election) of Palaung Youth Network Group [Ta’ang] was successfully held in a liberated area on the Thai-Burma border.
In 2008 December, the second congress of PYNG decided to change the name of the organization to the Ta’ang Students and Youth Organization (TSYO) to reflect that although we are called the Palaung in the Burmese language, we will start to call ourselves “Ta’ang” as per our own language.
We also changed the structure of our organization during our second Congress, from a Coordinator system to a Secretary system. The congress elected 7 Executive Committee Members to lead the second term of the TSYO by secret ballot. The Secretary system was implemented.

BACKGROUND ON THE TA'ANG

The Ta’ang (Palaung) people are one of the indigenous nationalities within the multi-national Union of Burma, descended from Mon-Khmer.
The Ta’ang people have their own language and literature, a distinctive traditional culture, their own territory, and a self-sufficient economy.
When people think about tea in Burma, one community springs to mind: the Ta’ang. Tea is the backbone of the economy and is famous throughout the region as the product of the Ta’ang people.

TSYO ACTIVITIES

Capacity-Building Program
TSYO provides different kinds of training to Ta’ang youth on human rights, democracy, the rule of law, transitional justice, civil society, community organizing, federalism, and the constitution. The trainings have been provided to the Ta’ang people in the Ta’ang region and on the China-Burma border to increase knowledge of human rights and political consciousness in the communities. By improving the capacity of the members, we can strengthen future TSYO activities, and the Ta’ang youth can participate more in building a democratic society in Burma through cooperating with other alliance groups.

On the Thai-Burma border, TSYO conducts similar education programs, but additionally we teach information technology, media studies, human rights and politics, basic field medicine, English, and other capacity-building training initiatives. Our goals are for our members to complete the program with improved abilities, knowledge and experience to be able to work more effectively for our organization. In addition, to promote TSYO member’s English skills, we receive an English teacher from Burma Volunteer Program (BVP) to conduct regular English classes in our office.

Health Assistance Program
Some members attend health assistance training at the Mae Tao clinic in Mae Sot. Our medics return to the Ta’ang area after they complete the training to assist Ta’ang people by setting up long-term health initiatives. We try to assist our people with health care and access to medicine in the Ta’ang area. TSYO is working together with the Palaung Women Organization (PWO) to set up mobile clinics and backpack medics in the Ta’ang region to fight and document the health issues.

Human Rights Documentation and Information
Since 2004, TSYO members have participated with the Network for Human Rights Documentation on Burma (ND-Burma) to establish and contribute to a common database on human rights documentation in Burma. We have released news concerning the human rights situation in the Ta’ang region to different broadcasting media groups, and we built the http://www.palaungland.org website in 2008. We currently collect data about land confiscation in the Ta’ang region for our report which we plan to release in the end of 2009.

Education Project
Since August 2006, TSYO has been collecting facts about the problems of the education system within the Ta’ang area and in Burma. We continue to collect information, and plan to release the report in September 2009.

Environment Program
We conduct trainings and workshops on protecting the environment. We work to raise awareness of how dams impact the local communities, and we collect updated information about where the Chinese companies and the military regime will build more dams on the Shweli River in northern Shan State. We released a report on the Shweli Dam 1, “Under the Boot” in December 2007. TSYO campaigned against the dam construction, and will continue to fight against future dam projects.

Culture and Literature Project
TSYO supports the Ta’ang Culture and Literature Committee to provide trainings about Ta’ang literature in the Ta’ang region and Thai-Burma border. TSYO has been assisting the Ta’ang music group financially and also supporting and promoting young Ta’ang people to compose and release Ta’ang songs. TSYO is currently writing a Ta’ang/Burmese/English dictionary and also plan to release it as a Burmese- Ta’ang- English dictionary

Tavoyan Youth Organization(TYO)

Background
TYO was formed 11th, 2002 with Tavoyan’s youth from Bangkok, Sangkhlaburi, Ranong and Chum Phorn. TYO was formed for cooperate in against the Junta, SPDC and to work out for Human Rights, Federal Union with youth from along Thai-Burma border. Also, to cooperate in youth activities and to learn the situation of Tavoyan youth along the border, then networking with those youth who are recently providing at the border areas. TYO is focusing upon situations and activities and we established Tavoyan Youth Organization’s Central Committee with the following aim and
objectives.

Our aim:
- To participate in the process of rebuilding our country and in the struggle
for democracy in Burma.

Our objectives are:
- To build up solidarity among our Tavoyan people and to be able to work together with different youth organization from Burma.
- To build up the capacity and ability of our young people.
- To maintain Tavoy’s culture and customs.

As upon aim and objectives that we mention, each of TYO Central Committee
members take responsibility as the following:
4. Non Pe Myint Chairman
5. Ko Soe Voice-Chairman
6. Ma Zar Ni Maw Secretary
7. Ma Thein Win Aung Voice-Secretary
8. Ko Wai Linn Soe member
9. Ma Moe Moe Thet member
10. Ko Toe member
11. Ko Htun Sein member
12. Ko Than Oo member

The achievement of TYO:
1. Participate in different works trainings with other youth organizations.
2. Alternative school for migrant workers from Burma in Ranong.
3. Organization skill-training programs such as Office Management, Computer for TYO members.
4. Providing Internship for its members
5. Membership of SYCB
6. Networking with Tavoyan Women’s Union (TWU) in Ranong region.
tyo2001@gmail.com,thazinni@gmail.com,yeminnaing2000@yahoo.com,tavoyan@cscoms.com,

Zomi Student and Youth Organization (Eastern)

1. Zomi Student and Youth Organization held the first Seminar in the border of Thai - Burma liberated area in 26 - 30. 8 . 2008. From the Seminar was made decision of Objectives and Processes under following which are:

Objectives
1. Eliminate Despotism;
2. Build Federalism;
3. The rights of Self-determination;
4. Uphold political, Democracy and Human Rights awareness of knowledge amongst Zomi Student and Youth;
5. Build and Uphold in effectiveness and efficiency of knowledge, phisically, mentally, education and fellowship amongst Zomi student and Youth solidarity ;

Processes
1. Co-operate in collaborating with Student and Youth Congress, Democratic
Alliances, Ethnic Alliances and Independent organizations;
2. Implemente in uplifting continuous youth leaders and academy;
3. Proclaim and Promote Zomi literature and culture, customary;
4. Implement Political, Democratic and Human Rights awareness of knowledge training and founding networking, propaganda;
5. Free flow of information and independent of media;
6. Co-operate to the International Zomi nationality;

2. Zomi Student and Youth Organization of the Seminar has made unianimous decision in harmony on the non - recognition of and grand tactics and multi - lateral opposition of SPDC electoral processes in the year of 2010.

3. Zomi Student and Youth Organization of the Seminar has made majority agreement of constitution amendement under the following elected Executive Committee which are:
Executive Committee
Secretary General - (1) Shin Mung
Secretary General - (2).George
Secretary General - (3)..Bony

Affair
1. Alliance Affair
2. Inland Affair
3. Project Affair
4. Educational Affair
5. Woman Affair
6. Informational Affair
7. Social Affair

Executive Committee
Zomi Student and Youth Organization (Eastern)
Contact:0800271820 (Shin Mung),0862115098 (Bony )zsyoeastern@zomi.net