Rakhine youth are laying the groundwork for a conference that will seek to politically engage the state’s population of young people.
The Rakhine Youth Conference is tentatively scheduled for December, organizers said at a March 12 press conference revealing the initiative.
The current, 12-member organizing committee includes youth representatives from nine of the state’s 17 townships, as well as representatives from Yangon. The youth leaders told the press they hope the upcoming conference will be as inclusive as possible, and said they will invite participants from all ethnic groups in the state.
“A conference which all Rakhine State youth can attend will take place in December in Taunggok Town,” said Ko Tun Tun, a youth leader and a member of the organizing committee representing Mrauk-U Township.
He added that the conference has three objectives: to boost youth’s cooperation and engagement on activities for the improvement of Rakhine State; to establish areas of common interest and agreement for future collaboration and to encourage youth to become involved in the state’s push for self-determination.
“We will hold the conference to empower an independent and strong group of Rakhine young people who are interested in cooperating in different sectors for the benefit of the Rakhine and other ethnic groups,” Ko Aung Naing, another youth leader said at the March 12 press event.
Translated by Aong Jaeneh
Edited by Laignee Barron for BNI
