So I am back in Chiang Mai, which is the town that I have been in and out of since 1971, and where I have lived and worked since 1996, I have returned from an 8-day sojourn, 9-12 June, to Burma.

I have come to call the country Hopeland, as it is a place full of hopes and dreams after more than 60 years of nightmares.

I traveled to Hopeland on the invitation of Lt.-Gen. Yawdserk, who was invited by U Aung Min, Vice Chairman of the Union Peacemaking Work Committee (UPWC).

The following events were organized by our hosts:

9 June 2013

• Had a reception and pre-meeting with U Aung Min in Naypyitaw

10 June 2013

• Met with President Thein Sein
• Met with ministers at the President’s office (A meeting at the President’s office Ministers’ office to pre followed by a press conference)
• Went to a dinner party hosted by Vice President Sai Mawk Kham

11 June 2013

• Had a follow-up meeting with the ministers and director-generals at the President’s office; which included officials from the Central Committee for Drug Abuse Control (CCDAC)
• Had a meeting with foreign envoys
• Had an informal meeting with Army Commander-in-Chief

12 June 2013

• Departed for Rangoon
• Met with Shan Nationalities League for Democracy (SNLD) leaders
• Had a summit meeting for the Shan party and armed movement leaders

13 June 2013

• Had a meeting and press conference at the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC)
• Meeting with foreign envoys from Human Dialogue Center

14 June 2013

• Met with political parties and civil society organizations, the meeting was followed by a press conference
• Met with officials from the Norwegian embassy
• Met with Myanmar Peace Center (MPC) officials

15 June 2013

• Met with Daw Aung San Suu Kyi
• Attended dinner party held by MPC for Karen National Union (KNU) and Restoration Councils of Shan State (RCSS) leaders

16 June 2013

• Departed for Mandalay

17 June 2013

• Attended public meeting in Kyaukme

Today (17 June 2013), the delegation, escorted by MPC and security officials, is said to be leaving for Taunggyi, where they are expected to stay and meet with representatives from both the state government and public sectors.

One thing mentioned by officials in Hopeland was that two of the leaders, from the Karen and Mon movements, were conspicuously not among the several missions sent by their leadership. They wanted us to assure them that there was nothing they couldn’t do in Hopeland just because they didn’t see eye to eye with the rest of their movements.

My purpose therefore is to write everything I have seen and heard during my stay in Hopeland, and to let the readers, and specifically the leaders that have, if I may say so, yet to come in from the cold.

As a follower of the Buddha who believed only in making 2 kinds of speeches:

• Ones that are true, pleasing and beneficial
• Ones that are true, not pleasing and beneficial

I will try my best, beginning tomorrow, to write what I believe to be truthful and beneficial. As to whether it will be “pleasing” or “unpleasing” will be left to the interpretation of the readers.

Note: This should actually be titled “To Hopeland and Back-Part III,” due to the fact that I made my first trip back to Hopeland last year on 18-22 May 2012. However, during that trip, I had written only news articles.