Thursday, 05 March 2009 22:44
Chiang Mai (Mizzima) – The Rangoon based civil society 'Myanmar Egress' on Thursday denied rumors that the group is preparing to contest the ensuing 2010 general elections.
A senior member of the Myanmar Egress, a group claiming to be into human resource training and capacity building, on Thursday told Mizzima that it has no plans to get involved in party politics. They have issued a statement explaining their stand and to counter the rumours.
"I have nothing to say in particular as we have already expressed our view in our statement. This news has been circulated among the people. In Burma, nothing is free of speculation and rumors," the senior member of the group, who requested not to be named, said.
Myanmar Egress in February issued a statement saying it does not want to involve itself in politics and has no plans to contest the ensuing 2010 election, but is committed to the upliftment of the people’s capacity by training them and involving them in community works.
The Myanmar Egress is made up of seven people including Dr. Nay Win Maung, publisher of the 'Living Colour' magazine, 'The Voice' weekly journal, and intellectuals and businessmen.
The statement says even though the new constitution allows civil societies to participate in party politics, this organization will not form any political party, will not conduct political work and its members will not join any other party or organizations.
The group said they need to prove to the people that they are not seeking any political gain in providing capacity building works in society, and by assisting people and civil society.
The statement also said they are prepared to join hands extensively with all those who are working in the task of nation building.
An official of the company administration department Phyu Pyar Aung said, "Our Myanmar Egress's main mission is to act as a 'capacity development center' so we are providing just training.
She added that the group has no intention to form a political party, as the group wants to work freely.
“We issued this statement to make our stand and true essence clear and to invite all who wish to join us in this stand," she added.
Myanmar Egress was established in 2006 and has provided research and capacity building services and training since then.
Meanwhile, critics said while Myanmar Egress might not be directly involved in politics, its founders, including Dr. Nay Win Maung and Dr. Kyaw Yin Hlaing do have political leanings and expressed doubts about their motives.
Nyo Ohn Myint, in-charge of foreign affairs committee of the National League for Democracy-Liberated Area (NLD-LA), said Dr. Nay Win Maung and Dr. Kyaw Yin Hlaing are part of a think-tank that harbours a moderate view of ways to solve Burma’s political deadlock.
While not directly exalting military dictatorship in Burma, they see opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi’s stand as extreme, Nyo Ohn Myint said.
But when contacted by Mizzima, Dr. Nay Win Maung was unavailable for comment.
Some information added by Mungpi
