Who is Aung San Suu Kyi?

To answer the question "Who is Aung San Suu Kyi?" within a blog post would be a miraculous feat. Hopefully, a brief overview will pique your interest in this amazing women and the situation of her home country.

Aung San Suu Kyi is the daughter of Aung San, who is credited with negotiating Burma's independence from the United Kingdom. His political accomplishments were not celebrated by all and he was assassinated in 1947.

After completing her education abroad and working internationally, at one point for the UN, Suu Kyi returned to Burma to care for her ailing mother. While in Burma, General Ne Win, the military dictator of Burma since 1962 resigned. Suu Kyi hoped that this resignation would bring great change to Burma but after uprisings were violently suppressed by the military, she made the decision to actively become involved. Over the next few years Suu Kyi voiced her beliefs despite laws banning gatherings of more than four people, constant personal harassment, and a ruling prohibiting her from standing for election. Even though she was placed under house arrest before the elections her party, the National League for Democracy, won 82% of the parliamentary seats. This success was never recognized by the State Peace and Development Council and Suu Kyi remained under house arrest.

During her years of imprisonment Suu Kyi has received many international awards including the Nobel peace Prize. Despite requests from many politicians and prominent international figures, Burma has not allowed Suu Kyi complete freedom. Suu Kyi’s strength and passion for a new Burma have become a universal symbol for political change.

UBC 101 Event - Thursday October 28th!

This is a great chance for first time delegates to familiarize themselves with UBCMUN!

Check out this link for more information.

What’s Different about UBCMUN 2011

This year, we’re hoping to make your experience richer and much more enjoyable with a few key changes.

These are just a few of the things we’re working on:

An Entirely New Committee Experience

We’re pleased to introduce, for the first time in the history of UBCMUN, the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (UNPFII). This forum will consist of sixteen member states and approximately 25-30 Indigenous organizations. The room will be set up in a parliamentary style with the purpose of encouraging and enhancing debate and resolution. Click here for more information.

           

A New Direction for the Case Study

            Myanmar has been under military rule since 1962. Minority groups assert that all political dissent is often sidelined and silenced. Media censorship is rampant and the ruling military council stands accused of gross human rights violations, including the use of forced labour and relocation. With the upcoming elections in Myanmar, it will be interesting to see the dynamic between the ruling military council and various opposition parties plays out. Will the elections be free and fair, or will they cause even more turmoil in a country already embroiled in ethnic tensions?

This year’s case study will be divided into two groups in two separate rooms, the ruling military council and the various oppressed minority parties and organizations. Click here for more information.

Much More Interactive Roles for Volunteers

            While volunteers will still have the opportunity of being pages, we have created new positions for those volunteers who want a more engaging role in committee sessions. From guest experts to spies to committee positions, we have made it so that those volunteers who would like to play a key role in the conference have the option to. Click here to sign up to be a volunteer.

Bringing Back the Delegate Speech Competition

            With the overwhelming success of last year’s Delegate Speech Competition, we have decided to bring it back for UBCMUN 2011 as well. While there will only be five finalists, our goal is to have as many delegations participate as possible. Click here for more information on how to participate.

Committee Guest Speakers

            For the first time ever, UBCMUN is working on having guest speakers open up the first committee session. We hope that this will provide participants with insight into that particular field of research and perhaps inspire new experiences. Keep checking our blog for more information on specific committee speakers.

A number of these changes are the result of feedback from past participants, if you have any questions, concerns or suggestions, please contact Dominika Ziemczonek at sg@ubcmun.org or Jaskiran Kaur at usg@ubcmun.org.   

Why Participate in UBCMUN 2011?

Why Participate?

If you have never been to a Model United Nations conference before (or have never even heard of Model UN), you are probably wondering what it is and why you should get involved. Model UN (MUN) is a simulation of the United Nations. Participants (known as delegates) take on the role of a country representative and work with delegates from other countries to try and address some of the world’s most complex issues.

In addition to meeting interesting people from across North America, participating in MUN also gives you the chance to hone skills you have acquired throughout the years. Your proficiency in public speaking, debate and negotiation can be practiced and improved through participation in the conference.  Perhaps most importantly, MUN gives you an opportunity to apply your knowledge of international politics and current events in an exciting and challenging environment! This year, our innovative committees are covering a variety of topics from international terrorism to global food security to indigenous rights – be part of the dialogue and register today!

For more information on Model UN, please visit our Model United Nations 101 page. We hope to see you in January!