UNITED NATIONS NATIONS UNIES 21 st Century Producer: Mary Ferreira Script version: FINAL Duration: 9 33 ) INTRO: MYANMAR TRANSITION TO DEMOCRACY (TRT 9 33 ) During Myanmar s military dictatorship, critical thinking and free debate were forbidden. But as the country changes, will this new openness open the doors to real democracy? The nation s youth are determined to make that transition. VIDEO (MUSIC) AUDIO AUNG MYIN THU ON-CAM AT HOME WITH MOTHER AND SISTER WILL TRY TO GET SOME ARCHIVAL FOOTAGE OF THIS AUNG MYIN THU: My name is Aung Myin Thu. I m in my twenties. I am from Kachin State which had a civil war between an ethnic group and the government. It started when I was in Grade 7. (17 ) IMAGES OF TEMPLES, PAGODAS, MONKS, LANDSCAPE GENERAL SCENES Thousands of people had to move out of their homes. Some of the houses were burned one of my brothers was shot in that battle. I moved to Mandalay to continue my
secondary education (20 ) Originally known as Burma, Myanmar in Southeast Asia is emerging from decades of military rule. Its people are looking greater freedom under a new democratic system. (13 ) PEOPLE IN STREEETS STREETS/BARBED WIRE ROAD BLOCKS During the military dictatorship, open discussion was discouraged under a tightly controlled political regime. This impacted heavily on the country s education system and academic institutions. (13 ) FAMILY AT HOME This is a story about three young people - Aung, Khin Chit and Myat - who became friends at Phaung Daw Ooo Monastic School. The school, which is managed by monks, uses a teaching methodology of critical thinking and free expression. (17 ) MOM AND BOY GOVERNMENT SCHOOLS ROTE LEARNING This was what drew Aung s mother who placed him here when his own school in Kachin State was shut down in the midst of civil strife. Government run schools don t allow this approach and still rely on rote learning. (14 )
KHIN CHIT ON-CAM KHIN CHIT WIN: (In English) I hate that system I learned all the subjects by memorizing lessons. (7 ) IN LIBRARY PEOPLE IN STREET Twenty-four year old, Khin Chit Win works as a librarian and debate activist at the school which is located in Mandalay, Myanmar s second largest city. (9 ) KHIN CHIT WIN ON-CAM KHIN CHIT WIN: (In English) This is not the way we have to learn that s absolutely the wrong way. (5 ) MASSES AUNG SAN SUU KYI BRIEFS CROWD Now life is different for the trio and the Burmese people who have witnessed a significant change since the 2010 elections. (8 ) Thousands of political prisoners were released including Nobel Laureate Aung San Suu Kyi. She had been confined to 20-years house arrest because of her efforts to bring full democracy to the country. Her vision is shared by Khin Chit. (15 )
KHIN CHIT WIN ON-CAM KHIN CHIT WIN: (In English) My hope for my country is to have a good education system to have access to a better education system, which can lead to a better way of democracy. (12 ) KHIN CHIT HOLDS MEETING WITH GROUP These young people believe that the path to a full democracy is through a system of free debate and critical thinking they want people to acquire public speaking skills to stand up for their rights without fear of repression. (14 ) Khin Chit s experience as a debate activist motivated her to create an opportunity for young people to strengthen their communication skills. (8 ) FORUM IN SESSION She introduced a project called Debate Education for Democracy into the school s curriculum. She and her friend Myat have been inspired from international examples. It took part in a debate tournament held in neighbouring Thailand. (19 )
MYAT MON THU ON-CAMERA MYAT MON THU: (In English) My team got the second prize. // But personally I learned from Thailand// as Myanmar people, we had been closed by the government. // So we don t have a lot of knowledge about politics or other things. // In Thailand they are very open and their education system is much better than here. // Our government has to provide good education, good governance system. If we can combine that, it is really very good for the country. (30 ) MYAT PREPARING HER MEALS IN DORM ETC. Now both Myat and Aung have a chance to serve as judges at the First Public Debate Forum organized by Khin Chit and which was held in Mandalay in August 2015. (10) PUBLIC FORUM YOUNG PEOPLE REGISTERING The project and the forum which aim to strengthen debating skills in Myanmar have been made possible through funding from UNDEF, the United Nations Democracy Fund. (10 ) MYAT WRITING NOTES GIRL: I am the first speaker and we stand for formal education is the best way to be happy in life. Our idea cannot be the
same so therefore formal education is not the best way. We can find happiness everywhere. (16 ) Of course we can get short term happiness in different ways. We need an education certificate to get a well paying job. (7 ) Our opponents present their arguments but they do not mention much about their happiness. Now Myanmar youth want to get scholarships. Why? They want to get formal education from developed countries. Why? Because they want to get well paying jobs. (20 ) to get happiness in their lives. Not all of the people in the world can access formal education. can we say that these people cannot get happiness in their lives? No. (16 ) Over 100 young people from four regions in Upper Myanmar competed for the top prize. (6 ) Myat draws on her past experience while judging tournaments. (3 )
MYAT MON THU ON-CAM MYAT MON THU: What I am doing here is judging the affirmative team. they have three arguments and they have clear information to convince me. (9 ) MONG AWE ZAW ON-CAM BOY: My name is Mong Awe Zaw and I am from Kachin State. We think that we did pretty well. And I think that actually both sides are really excelling. We are awaiting the results of the judges. (15 ) BRANDE SOVOHAIU ON-CAM BOY: I am Brande Sovohaiu from Mo State. I am on the negative side in the debate. I think my negative side is a bit weak. (11 ) KACHIN STATE APPROACHING STAGE After several rounds, the team from Kachin State wins the contest as the best and most effective youth debaters in Myanmar. (7 ) Myat believes that it s a vital skill which
VOTING PROCESS will help them to face challenges in life, allowing them to think of the negative and positive sides of any argument and to choose wisely for themselves. (11 ) In November 2015, most of these young debaters, used their newly acquired knowledge to cast their ballots in Myanmar s first national election since President Thein Sein s government took over in 2011. (12 ) PEOPLE WAVING FLAGS After tallying votes, Aung San Suu Kyi s National League for Democracy party won a landslide victory. But under the new constitution under a 2008 amendment, she is barred from taking up the Presidency. (13 ) MYAT ON-CAMERA PHOTO OPPORTUNITYAUNG MON THU ON HILLTOP LOOKING OUT MYAT MON THU: (In English) If we cannot change the constitution we won t see things changing much. But if we are changing the constitution, it s a different situation. (8 ) For Myanmar s young debaters, there s now a chance to use their skills to build a true democracy. (5 ) MYAT ON-CAM MYAT MON THU: (In English)
U Thant the former UN Secretary General from our country, he said that if you re going to have democracy every single person has to be educated. So if there are no educated people, there s no hope for democracy. (19 ) KHIN CHIT WIN ON-CAM AUNG MON THU ON-CAM KHIN CHIT WIN: (In English) I will try my best to continue my work and to change the education system and to help create opportunities for youth. (9 ) AUNG MON THU: (In English) I believe in democracy. Everyone no matter if you are a man or a woman. All of us are connected to politics. We all need to be interested in politics. Politics is life as well as life is politics. (18 ) AUNG MIN WITH HIS FAMILY SUNSET/BRIDGE Aung says his mother is very proud of his accomplishments and has never regretted the sacrifice she made by moving to Mandalay. His goal is to share his knowledge and experience with the next generation who will help build a better Myanmar. (15 )