Workshop on the democratic transition process in Nepal

Workshop on the democratic transition process in Nepal

Hello again from Yangon!

It has been a lovely week so far. I started off refreshed after spending a wonderful weekend in Shan State, and returned eager to resume work on my latest comparative constitutional assignment. Again, I can’t share details as the stakeholders involved are very sensitive but I can say that I am grateful for the opportunity to be involved in this delicate process in Myanmar. I have had a crash course in comparative constitutional studies and I am constantly surprised and intrigued by the provisions that I find. I also learn more every day about the political history of this country, the experience and perspective of the Burmese people and what their hopes are for the evolving political process.

Yesterday, I had the opportunity to attend an IDEA workshop for members of the political party group of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar Union Peace Dialogue Joint Committee. The UPDJC was created by the 2015 Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement, which was signed by leaders of Ethnic Armed Organizations and the government (go here for the text of the NCA). 

The workshop focused on the democratic transition process in Nepal and was led by Dr. Khim Lal Devkota, a Nepalese attorney and politician who practiced at the Supreme Court of Nepal and served as a member of the Interim Constitution Drafting Committee. He discussed the evolution of the Nepalese constitution, the transitional peace process and implications for Myanmar. As with the other IDEA workshops I have had the opportunity to attend, the talk was very interactive, with spirited discussion and questions from participants.

Can you find me?

I will post again this weekend to share pictures and experiences from beautiful Shan State.

-KLP