UNITED NATIONS NATIONS UNIES - un.org · script # 1 myanmar : transition to democracy (trt 9’33”) video aung myin thu on-cam at home with mother and sister started when i was

UNITED NATIONS NATIONS UNIES

21st

Century

Programme : EPISODE # 110 SHOW OPEN, GRAPHIC AND MUSIC (14”)

Coming up on 21st Century (2”)

TEASE #1 – Myanmar: Transition to Democracy

NARRATION

… Recent changes in Myanmar could pave the way for new freedoms, but …:

KHIN CHIT WIN: (In English)

“if there are no educated people, there’s no hope for democracy.”

NARRATION

…Burmese youth take up the challenge and speak out. (16”)

TEASE #2 – Juan Mendez : Campaigner Against Torture

In Argentina in the 1970s, being a lawyer could put you at risk

MENDEZ (In Spanish)

They put me on a table, hands and feet stretched out and tied down, always

blindfolded, and they applied the electric prod.

Once a victim, now determined to end torture. (17”)

TEASE #3 – Pianists for Peace

STANISLAV

We have five pianists from different countries;

ALEXANDER

I want to say that our countries have difficult times, but it’s not forever.

STANISLAV

Art, especially music, cures souls, cures the society. (20”)

Hello and welcome to 21st Century I’m….

STUDIO INTRO #1 Myanmar : Transition to Democracy

During Myanmar’s military dictatorship, critical thinking and free debate were forbidden. But

as the country changes, will this new openness open the doors to real democracy? The

nation’s youth are determined to make that transition. (14”)

SCRIPT # 1 MYANMAR : TRANSITION TO DEMOCRACY (TRT 9’33”)

VIDEO

AUNG MYIN THU ON-CAM

AT HOME WITH MOTHER

AND SISTER

WILL TRY TO GET SOME ARCHIVAL

FOOTAGE OF THIS

IMAGES OF TEMPLES,

PAGODAS, MONKS, LANDSCAPE’

GENERAL SCENES

AUDIO

(MUSIC)

AUNG MYIN THU:

“My name is Aung Myin Thu. I’m in my

twenties.”

I am from Kachin State which had a

civil war between an

ethnic group and the government. It

started when I was in Grade 7. (17”)“

“Thousands of people had to move out

of their homes. Some of the houses

were burned…one of my brothers was

shot in that battle. I moved to

Mandalay to continue my secondary

education…“ (20”)

NARRATION

Originally known as Burma, Myanmar

in Southeast Asia is emerging from

decades of military rule. Its people are

looking greater freedom under a new

democratic system. (13”)

PEOPLE IN STREEETS

STREETS/BARBED WIRE

ROAD BLOCKS

FAMILY AT HOME

MOM AND BOY

GOVERNMENT SCHOOLS

ROTE LEARNING

During the military dictatorship, open

discussion was discouraged under a

tightly controlled political regime. This

impacted heavily on the country’s

education system and academic

institutions. (13”)

This is a story about three young

people - Aung, Khin Chit and Myat -

who became friends at Phaung Daw

Ooo Monastic School. The school,

which is managed by monks, uses a

teaching methodology of critical

thinking and free expression. (17”)

This was what drew Aung’s mother

who placed him here when his own

school in Kachin State was shut down

in the midst of civil strife. Government

run schools don’t allow this approach

and still rely on rote learning. (14”)


“I hate that system…I learned all the

subjects by memorizing lessons. (7”)

NARRATION

Twenty-four year old, Khin Chit Win

KHIN CHIT ON-CAM

IN LIBRARY

PEOPLE IN STREET

KHIN CHIT WIN ON-CAM

works as a librarian and debate activist

at the school which is located in

Mandalay, Myanmar’s second largest

city. (9”)


“This is not the way we have to

learn…that’s absolutely the wrong

way.” (5”)

NARRATION

Now life is different for the trio and the

Burmese people who have witnessed a

significant change since the 2010

elections. (8”)

MASSES

AUNG SAN SUU KYI BRIEFS

CROWD

Thousands of political prisoners were

released including Nobel Laureate

Aung San Suu Kyi. She had been

confined to 20-years house arrest

because of her efforts to bring full

democracy to the country. Her vision is

shared by Khin Chit. (15”)



“My hope for my country is to have a

good education system…to have

access to a better education system,

which can lead to a better way of

KHIN CHIT HOLDS MEETING

WITH GROUP

democracy.” (12”)

NARRATION

These young people believe that the

path to a full democracy is through a

system of free debate and critical

thinking – they want people to acquire

public speaking skills to stand up for

their rights without fear of repression.

(14”)

Khin Chit’s experience as a debate

activist motivated her to create an

opportunity for young people to

strengthen their communication skills.

(8”)

She introduced a project called

“Debate Education for Democracy” into

the school’s curriculum.

FORUM IN SESSION She and her friend Myat have been

inspired from international examples. It

took part in a debate tournament held

in neighbouring Thailand. (19”)

MYAT MON THU ON-CAMERA

MYAT MON THU: (In English)

“My team got the second prize. // But

personally I learned from Thailand// as

Myanmar people, we had been closed

by the government. // So we don’t have

a lot of knowledge about politics or

other things. // In Thailand they are

very open and their education system

is much better than here. // Our

government has to provide good

education, good governance system. If

we can combine that, it is really very

good for the country.” (30”)

MYAT PREPARING HER MEALS

IN DORM ETC.

PUBLIC FORUM

YOUNG PEOPLE REGISTERING

NARRATION

Now both Myat and Aung have a

chance to serve as judges at the First

Public Debate Forum organized by

Khin Chit and which was held in

Mandalay in August 2015. (10)

The project and the forum which aim to

strengthen debating skills in Myanmar

have been made possible through

funding from UNDEF, the United

Nations Democracy Fund. (10”)

GIRL:

“I am the first speaker and we stand for

formal education is the best way to be

happy in life. Our idea cannot be the

same so therefore formal education is

MYAT WRITING NOTES not the best way. We can find

happiness everywhere.” (16”)

“Of course we can get short term

happiness in different ways.”

“We need an education certificate to

get a well paying job.” (7”)

“Our opponents present their

arguments but they do not mention

much about their happiness.”

Now Myanmar youth want to get

scholarships. Why? They want to get

formal education from developed

countries. Why? Because they want to

get well paying jobs. (20”)

“to get happiness in their lives. Not all

of the people in the world can access

formal education. can we say that

these people cannot get happiness in

their lives? No.” (16”)

NARRATION

Over 100 young people from four

regions in Upper Myanmar competed

for the top prize. (6”)

Myat draws on her past experience

while judging tournaments. (3”)

MYAT MON THU ON-CAM

MONG AWE ZAW ON-CAM

BRANDE SOVOHAIU ON-CAM

KACHIN STATE APPROACHING

STAGE

MYAT MON THU:

“What I am doing here is judging the

affirmative team. they have three

arguments and they have clear

information to convince me.” (9”)

BOY:

“My name is Mong Awe Zaw and I am

from Kachin State. We think that we

did pretty well. And I think that actually

both sides are really excelling. We are

awaiting the results of the judges.”

(15”)

BOY:

“I am Brande Sovohaiu from Mo State.

I am on the negative side in the debate.

I think my negative side is a bit weak.”

(11”)

NARRATION

After several rounds, the team from

Kachin State wins the contest as the

best and most effective youth debaters

in Myanmar. (7”)

VOTING PROCESS

Myat believes that it’s a vital skill which

will help them to face challenges in life,

allowing them to think of the negative

and positive sides of any argument and

to choose wisely for themselves. (11”)

In November 2015, most of these

young debaters, used their newly

acquired knowledge to cast their ballots

in Myanmar’s first national election

since President Thein Sein’s

government took over in 2011. (12”)

PEOPLE WAVING FLAGS

After tallying votes, Aung San Suu

Kyi’s National League for Democracy

party won a landslide victory. But under

the new constitution under a 2008

amendment, she is barred from taking

up the Presidency. (13”)

MYAT ON-CAMERA

PHOTO OPPORTUNITYAUNG MON

THU ON HILLTOP

LOOKING OUT


“If we cannot change the constitution

we won’t see things changing much.

But if we are changing the constitution,

it’s a different situation.” (8”)

NARRATION

For Myanmar’s young debaters, there’s

now a chance to use their skills to build

a true democracy. (5”)

MYAT ON-CAM


“U Thant the former UN Secretary

General from our country, he said that

if you’re going to have democracy

every single person has to be

educated. So if there are no

educated people, there’s no hope for

democracy.” (19”)


AUNG MON THU ON-CAM


“I will try my best to continue my work

and to change the education system

and to help create opportunities for

youth.” (9”)

AUNG MON THU: (In English)

“I believe in democracy. Everyone no

matter if you are a man or a woman. All

of us are connected to politics. We all

need to be interested in politics.

Politics is life as well as life is politics.”

(18”)

AUNG MIN WITH HIS FAMILY

SUNSET/BRIDGE

NARRATION

Aung says his mother is very proud of

his accomplishments and has never

regretted the sacrifice she made by

moving to Mandalay. His goal is to

share his knowledge and experience

with the next generation who will help

build a better Myanmar. (15”)

STUDIO INTRO #2 - Juan Mendez, Campaigner Against Torture

Under Argentina’s military dictatorship in the 1970s torture was widespread – and

many thousands were “disappeared”. A courageous lawyer was among those who

suffered – but today he’s campaigning to end torture worldwide. (16”)

SCRIPT #2 : JUAN MENDEZ – CAMPAIGNER AGAINST TORTURE (5’29”)

VIDEO

AUDIO

ARCHIVE FOOTAGE OF CONFLICT IN ARGENTINA

JUAN MENDEZ (In Spanish) One of the most difficult aspects of my

work is the feeling that we have lost our

sense of universally condemning

torture. There is a perception that

torture is necessary, dirty, but

somebody has got to do it. In reality

there’s never a scenario where you

have to stop a terrorist exploding a

bomb. (24”)

TEXT ON SCREEN Military dictatorships dominated Latin America in the 1970’s. In Argentina, Juan Mendez began his law career defending political prisoners.

TEXT ON SCREEN Military dictatorships dominated Latin

America in the 1970’s, in Argentina,

Juan Mendez began his law career

defending political prisoners.

MENDEZ ON CAMERA ARCHIVE CONFLICT FOOTAGE ARGENTINA

JUAN MENDEZ (In Spanish) With more detentions each day, more

prisoners to defend, and more cases of

torture, the responsibility fell on a group

of younger lawyers, like me. And what

we mostly did is keep our clients’

clandestine detention as short as

possible to limit the torture as short as

possible. (26”)

We knew things were getting more

tense, we just didn’t think that anything

was going to happen to us. Looking

back, we weren’t safe. We were

walking on the edge of a precipice.

(14)”

TEXT ON SCREEN On August 26th, 1975, Juan was abducted by police in civilian clothing. ….and taken to one of Argentina’s many clandestine detention centres, like this one in the city of Rosario.

TEXT ON SCREEN On August 26th, 1975, Juan was abducted by police in civilian clothing. ….and taken to one of Argentina’s many clandestine detention centres, like this one in the city of Rosario

VARIOUS TORTURE CHAMBER VIDEO

JUAN MENDEZ (In Spanish) Each time they got me out of their car

at an interrogation centre or police

station, I don’t know where, that’s when

the torture sessions began. (12”)

They put me on a table, hands and feet

stretched out and tied down, always

blindfolded, and they applied the

electric prod. But not the kind used on

cattle. That has small voltage. This

was an instrument for torture, in which

they could change the voltage. They

stripped me of my clothes and they

applied this instrument each time more

violently, all over my body. (28”)

My greatest fear was that they’d come

back for more. I knew if they didn’t, I

was going to survive and put in front of

a judge to explain that there was no

reason to keep me detained. (17”)

TEXT ON SCREEN Under a state of siege in Argentina, Juan remained in detention for a year and a half.

TEXT ON SCREEN Under a state of siege in Argentina, Juan remained in detention for a year and a half.

MENDEZ ON CAMERA

JUAN MENDEZ (In Spanish)

And out on the streets, they had a plan

FONT ON UPPER LEFT SCREEN Excavation of a clandestine detention centre, Buenos Aires

of forcibly “disappear” people. They

detained people, but never took them

to jail, but to concentration camps. they

were savagely tortured and killed.

(14”)

TEXT ON SCREEN 30,000 Argentinians were ‘disappeared’ from 1975 - 1983

TEXT ON SCREEN 30,000 Argentinians were ‘disappeared’ from 1975 - 1983


This is how torture happens in reality.

There is never a bomb that is about to

explode scenario. Torture happens

against a great number of people.

What they want is to punish (13”)

TEXT ON SCREEN Due to international pressure by Amnesty International, Juan was allowed to go into exile.

TEXT ON SCREEN Due to international pressure by Amnesty International, Juan was allowed to go into exile.


In 1977, I came to the United States to

be reunited with my family to start our

lives over again. But also always

remembering how to help those left

behind in Argentina. (14”)

TEXT ON SCREEN As a human rights lawyer, Juan Mendez has dedicated the last 40 years to ending torture. As Special Rapporteur on Torture, he conducts country visits and reports on findings to the United Nations.

MUSIC TEXT ON SCREEN As a human rights lawyer, Juan Mendez has dedicated the last 40 years to ending torture. As Special Rapporteur on Torture, he conducts country visits and reports on findings to the United Nations.

MENDEZ ON CAMERA


For those unable to defend their rights

STILLS OF MENDEZ AT CONFERENCE MENDEZ ON CAMERA CONFERENCE NI NEW YORK FONT: His reports are made public at the UN in New York …and at the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva

at the national level, which may be a

major part of the world…I’d say more

than two thirds of the world, the UN

may be the only possible chance for

justice. So, when we visit a country the

attention of the media is enormous,

and it energizes civil society, the

organisations for victims, their families

and, prisoners themselves. It puts

everyone in a position to make the

situation better. (36”)

NATSOT (at conference)

“For torture, I think this is one of those

areas where the convention leaves a

lot of room for effective implementation

(at press conference) “The states are

also obliged to investigate, prosecute

and punish those who may be

responsible.

(Press gathering) “(in Spanish)


Even today, I don’t know how I’m still

affected by the sessions of torture. I

think what has helped me is being able

to share my story so that people of

goodwill everywhere will understand

torture and, why we need to fight it.

(24”)

TEXT ON SCREEN Juan Mendez’ chief torturer is now Serving a life sentence for torture, Murder and “disappearances”.

STUDIO INTRO #3 : GENEVA : Pianists for Peace

From discord to harmony – five pianists from countries in conflict with each other

come together to play for peace. Here’s our story from Geneva. (10”)

SCRIPT # 3 : GENEVA: PIANISTS FOR PEACE (TRT 5’50”)

VIDEO

AUDIO CU HANDS ON KEYBOARD PLAYING PIANO

MUSIC

ALEXANDER

Music is one of the very few things in the world

which doesn’t have language. Totally

understandable for every nation, for every age. It

is really the language of the heart, going directly

from one heart to the other one. (15”)

ALEXANDER PLAYING PIANO UP NAT SOT – PIANO

ALEXANDER ON CAM ALEXANDER (In English)

My name is Alexander Ghindin. I am the pianist,

the honoured artist, from Russia. (5”)

ALEXANDER AND STANISLAV

NAT SOT – PIANO REHEARSAL

STANISLAV (In English)

In my personal opinion, any conflict, any war,

means that there is a problem in the society. I

think that art, especially music, cures souls, cures

the society. (15”)

rehearsals My name is Stanislav Khristenko and I am

originally from Ukraine. I was born in Ukraine. (4”)

In my opinion, one of the reasons that many

countries have problems these days is that they

don’t get enough events that have heart. And that

people can get positive emotions and get really

great feeling from them. (16”)

TEXT ON SCREEN September 2015 – Pianists for Peace Concert at United Nations, Geneva Switzerland

STANISLAV (in English)

We have five pianists from five different countries;

we have our artistic director and wonderful pianist

from Russia, Alexander Ghindin. We have

Francois-Xavier Poizat from Switzerland. We also

have a piano duo from Israel and Palestine –

Yaron Kohlberg and Bishara Haroni, and myself

representing Ukraine. (22”)

ALEXANDER (In English)

When I bring Israelis and Palestinians, Russians

and Ukrainians – I want to say that our countries

have difficult times, but it’s not forever. (9”)

The message is that if our countries are not the

best relations for this moment, first of all, it doesn’t

affect the people of earth or any human beings.

And the other part of the message that, thanks to

the fact that we are musicians, we can bring (this)

to the stage. (17”)


I hope that this concert that we are going to

present here in Geneva is going to bring that joy

and positive feeling for the people. (10”)

NATSOT INTRO TO CONCERT

STANISLAV

It is all music about love, about positive energy,

about joy. (3”)

We really believe that music is something that

brings joy to people and this is something that

makes people do nice things to others, and this is

something that brings people together. (14”)

ALEXANDER (In English)

The friendship of musicians is a very special thing

and very important to each one. That’s why I am

very happy here to play with Stanislav – he is my

great friend and my great, very marked, colleague

– wonderful pianist. (13”)

UP NAT SOUND: MUSIC FROM CONCERT


We never had problems getting together playing

music. Why then people cannot find a way to

communicate without fights, without wars? So

playing this music and sharing this music with

people to enjoy the wonderful art that comes from

different countries, from different cultures and

through that, make peace. (25”)

ALEXANDER

If I would be a writer, I would write poems, poetry,

literature. But I am a musician and I do what I can

do (9”)

UP-SND CONCERT FINALE AND FINAL

APPLAUSE

TEXT ON SCREEN: The concert marked the 70th Anniversary of the United Nations and the International Day of Peace.

LOOK AHEAD VIDEO TEASE

NARRATION

Coming up on a future episode of 21st Century (3”)

TOM HOFFMAN (In English)

My name is Tom Hoffman. I am 70 years old. I was born on May 8th 1944, in

Budapest, Hungary. A few months earlier, the Germans had entered to complete the

final solution, which was the extermination of all Jews. We had entered the

Budapest Ghetto but my mother knew that we couldn’t stay there, so we were hidden

in a Christian family. Sometimes people wonder why I am so committed to undoing

injustices. I became a lawyer because I wanted to help others as I was helped. (40”)

CREDITS (TRT 1’50”)

21st Century

A production of United Nations Television

Department of Public Information

MYANMAR: TRANSITION TO DEMOCRACY

Producer

Mary Ferreira

Videographer & Editor Joon Park

Archival footage Radio Free Asia

JUAN MENDEZ – CAMPAIGNER AGAINST TORTURE

Producer & Editor

Austin Haeberle

Videographer Joseph Parker

Additional Editing

Francis Mead

Photographs Pablo D. Flores

& Centro Popular de Memoria, Rosario, Argentina

Special Thanks

Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights The European Union

GENEVA: PIANISTS FOR PEACE

Producer

Sandra Miller

Videographers Emmanuel HUNGRECKER and Nicolas HOPKINS

Editor

Ben Lybrand

Special Thanks

ACTUA GENEVA UN Mission of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela

UNESCO Geneva Liaison Office Geneva Centre For Human Rights Advancement and Global Dialogue

University of Geneva ADMAF (Abu Dhabi Music and Art Foundation)

Post Production Editor Ben Lybrand

Post Production Coordinator

Lebe Besa

Line Producer Maggie Yates

Executive Producers Gill Fickling

Francis Mead

Executive-in-Charge Chaim Litewski

Documents

UNITED NATIONS NATIONS UNIES - un.org · script # 1 myanmar : transition to democracy (trt 9’33”) video aung myin thu on-cam at home with mother and sister started when i was