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33rd #WhatsHappeninginMyanmar Monthly Updates by Debbie Stothard
16 August, 2023 @ 3:00 pm - 4:00 pm
On 16 August 2023 at 3-4 pm (Bangkok Time), SEA Junction in collaboration with Asia Justice and Rights (AJAR) will hold the 33rd #WhatsHappeninginMyanmar Monthly Updates. This updated series was started soon after the coup d’état in Myanmar with the aim to contribute to a greater understanding of the crisis situation there for informed action in support of the democratic movement in the country and beyond.
Since February 2021, Myanmar has been in turmoil as the Myanmar Army, known as Tatmadaw, detained State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi and President Win Myint following a general election which Suu Kyi’s NLD party won by a landslide. The coup by General Min Aung Hlaing brought an end to a decade of semi-democratic rule and returned full power to the military. Courageously, the population has been resisting and demanding the release of the imprisoned leaders and restoration of the democratic rule and the National Unity Government (NUG) has been formed by the Committee Representing Pyidaungsu Hluttaw (CRPH), a group of elected lawmakers and members of parliament ousted in the coup. Economic collapse amid escalating conflict is making of Myanmar a failed state, with many leaving the country in search of refuge and opportunities. The global community has overall condemned the coup and the military abuses, but concerted diplomatic interventions are still too bland. After more than two years of the coup, ASEAN has been excluding Tatmadaw representatives from their summits, but still fails to recognize NUG as the legitimate representative of Myanmar. While the future of the country is in the hands of its people, international and regional bodies ought to isolate the military junta, ban arms, embargo business by the militaries and their cronies, address gross violations of international human rights and humanitarian law and provide humanitarian relief to the population.
The updates are meant to be short informal dialogues with a speaker who provides an analysis of the latest events in the preceding two weeks for about 20 minutes before the moderator, SEA Junction’s Founder and Director Rosalia Sciortino, opens the floor for questions and answers. Initially the updates were held bi-weekly and lasted from March 2021 to March 2022 with speakers Aung Zaw, Founder and Director Irrawaddy; Khin Ohmar, a well-known Peace and Security Advocate; Debbie Stothard, an active promoter of human rights in Burma and the ASEAN regions; and May Zin Thaw, the founder of a local think tank institute Researchers’ Republic. The now-monthly updates in 2023 are going to restart with one of our previous resource persons Debbie Stothard who has been much appreciated by the public for her comprehensive reviews of the evolving situation.
To participate, tune in for the monthly update planned for 16 August 2023 at 3-4 pm (Bangkok Time) via Zoom (Link: https://bit.ly/MyanmarUpdates2023) and Facebook Live on our page: SEA Junction.
Photo: Revolution Photographs
Speaker Profile:
Debbie Stothard is the coordinator of Alternative Asean Network on Burma (ALTSEAN-Burma), an NGO campaigning for human rights and democracy in the ASEAN region, with a particular focus on Burma, which she founded in 1996. During her 32-year career, she has worked as a journalist, community education consultant, governmental advisor and trainer in Malaysia, Australia and Thailand. She has participated in democracy building in Burma, organising advocacy meetings and campaigns on human rights, in Burma and other ASEAN countries since 1987. These activities led her to work in collaboration with UN and ASEAN institutions as well as several governments in Asia, North America and Europe. She is also invited by universities, conferences and media outlets to speak on the Burmese situation. ALTSEAN produces a monthly brief on the coup that can be read at https://www.altsean.org/coupwatch-briefer.html.
Organizers:
SEA Junction
SEA Junction, established under the Thai non-profit organization Foundation for Southeast Asia Studies (ForSEA), aims to foster understanding and appreciation of Southeast Asia in all its socio-cultural dimensions, from arts and lifestyles to economy and development. Conveniently located at Room 407-8 of the Bangkok Arts and Culture Center or BACC (across MBK, BTS National Stadium), SEA Junction facilitates public access to knowledge resources and exchanges among students, practitioners and Southeast Asia lovers. For more information, see www.seajunction.org, join the Facebook group: http://www.facebook.com/groups/1693058870976440/ and follow us on Twitter and Instagram @seajunction
Asia Justice and Rights (AJAR)
AJAR is a non-profit organization, based in Jakarta, Indonesia, whose aim is to contribute to the strengthening of human rights and the alleviation of entrenched impunity in the Asia-Pacific region. Its work focuses on countries involved in transition from a context of mass human rights violations to democracy, where it strives to build cultures based on accountability, justice and a willingness to learn from the root causes of mass human rights violations to help prevent the recurrence of state-sanctioned human rights violations. For more information, see www.asia-ajar.org.
