Myanmar Federalism Leadership Programme
Opening ceremony of the Myanmar Federalism Leadership Programme 2019

The first day of the MFLP 2019

HSF

Mr. Stefan Burkhart, Head of the South- & Southeastasia Department of the Hanns Seidel Foundation, welcomed everyone and explained how HSF already has been engaging in Myanmar for two decades. The Myanmar Federalism Leadership Programme is one of the most outstanding projects of HSF in this area. However, he also mentioned that the programme is not supposed to preach federalism or the German version of it. Each federation is unique and there is no ideality of federalism. Finally he shared his hope in the MFLP to be an enriching programme for the participants.

Ngun Lian San, Executive Director of the Centre for Development and Ethnic Studies explained that Myanmar’s civil war has been lasting for 70 years already, but the participants are lucky to have the chance to bring peace and a peaceful legacy to future generations. He stated that he was sure that everyone joining this programme is dedicated to create a peaceful Myanmar and that the ten days will appear very short to everyone.

Stefan Burkhardt, Head of the South- & Southeast Asia Department of HSF giving an opening speech

HSF

YingLao Noanvo, Deputy Director of The Salween Institute for Public Policy, compared designing federalism in Myanmar to designing a house, in which everyone is going to live together. Therefore everyone should have a say in how they want to live together. The goal is to design a country, in which the already given diversity is embraced.

After explaining the logistics of the programme, the participants and organisers introduced themselves and joined a welcome dinner.

We would like to thank everyone for a successful first evening of this year’s MFLP and are looking forward to enriching ten days.