National lawyers initiative gains traction

Wednesday, 05 January 2011 22:10 Phanida

Chiang Mai (Mizzima) – A nine-member legal aid team in Monywa, Sagaing division held discussions today on forming a national lawyer’s network.

The two day meeting was organised by the National League for Democracy (NLD) and held at the residence of legal advocate Saw Tun.

“Lawyers in Monywa have been providing free legal aid for some time to people who cannot afford representation. We hope to expand and better coordinate our activities”, advocate Saw Tun told Mizzima.

The lawyers had been providing legal aid to political and human rights activists since 2007. While they have been able to gain acquittals for some cases, others had not been so successful, he explained.

NLD legal consultant Aung Thein travelled from Rangoon to join the discussion.

The national lawyer’s network would focus on forced land confiscation cases as well as child soldiers.

The legal aid team has now completed discussions in Rangoon, Mandalay, Pegu, Sagaing and Magwe divisions.

The NLD team met 15 young legal experts from both Mandalay division on January, advocate Khin Maung Shein told Mizzima.

“The network would not be a formal part of the NLD, even though many of our members will be involved”

“The focus will be on working with young lawyers”, he added.

This initiative comes on the back of other meetings with young people in Rangoon, where party leader Aung San Suu Kyi established a youth communications network.

Advocate Aung Thein said the network would be a way for young lawyers to be mentored and encouraged by more experienced legal experts.