Jan 28, 2009 (DVB), More than 200 National League for Democracy youth members attended a talk on the Burmese legal system led by Thein Nyunt of the central legal advocacy wing at the party headquarters yesterday.

The talk, one of a series of fortnightly seminars aimed at young people, was also attended by NLD central executive committee members Win Tin, Nyunt Wei, Soe Myint and Khin Maung Swe.

Rangoon division youth member Aye Naing said Thein Nyunt spoke about the history of repressive laws in Burma.

"He explained the history of controversial acts such as 505(b) and act 144 to us," Aye Naing said.

"Act 505(b) was introduced in Burma before the exile of the last Burmese King Sebaw over a century ago. Act 144 was drawn up by the British during colonial era," he said.

"U Thein Nyunt pointed out how some of the laws we are still using are not relevant to the modern age we are living now," he went on.

"Emergency Act 5(j) was written from the sole perspective of security concerns so it allows the authorities to abuse people legally."

Previous topics for the seminars have included independence and youth and the future of the democracy movement.

Reporting by Khin Hnin Htet