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35th #WhatsHappeninginMyanmar Monthly Updates
8 November, 2023 @ 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm
On 8 November 2023 at 4-5 pm (Bangkok Time), SEA Junction in collaboration with Mizzima as a media partner will hold the 35th #WhatsHappeninginMyanmar Monthly Updates. This update series was started soon after the coup d’état in Myanmar with the aim of contributing 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 update aims to contribute to a greater understanding of the crisis situation in Myanmar for informed action in support of the democratic movement in the country and beyond. It is 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. Our former speakers include 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. This monthly update in November 2023 are going to restart with Asst. Prof. Lalita Hanwong who is very specialize in the subject of colonial Burma and was widely praised for her research works on Myanmar.
To participate, tune in for the monthly update planned for 8 November at 4-5 pm (Bangkok Time) via Zoom (Link: https://bit.ly/MyanmarUpdates2023) and Facebook Live on our page: SEA Junction.
Speaker Profile:
Asst. Prof. Lalita Hanwong completed her PhD dissertation in history at the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London. Her PhD thesis explored the colonial perception of crime and how the British exercised their crime deterring practices upon Burma during the late 19th – early 20th centuries. Lalita has been teaching in 2 universities in Thailand, namely Mahasarakham University (2006-2016) and Kasetsart University (2016-present). After her graduation in 2012, Lalita has been working on research projects on a variety of themes regarding colonial Burma. Her latest research, ‘Hla Myint: Reflections on His Socio-Economic Thought, from the Colonial Time to a Postcolonial Era’, was funded by the Thai Research Fund (TRF) explores the role of Professor Hla Myint, the most prominent Burmese economist in international economic areana. Lalita also contributes to a weekly column called ‘Thailand Meets Burma’ (Thai Pop Phama) in Matichon Daily newspapers; as well as a monthly article on The101.world, a leading Thai web-based journal. Please see: https://www.iias.asia/profile/lalita-hanwong
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
Media Partner:
Mizzima
Mizzima, derived from the Pali for middle or moderate and chosen for its inference of an unbiased and independent media, was established in 1998 in New Delhi, India, by veterans of Myanmar’s 1988 pro-democracy uprising. Founder Soe Myint and co-founder Thin Thin Aung participated in the movement for democracy and they were in exile in India as refugees. Since its founding the aim of Mizzima has been to provide high quality news relating to Myanmar while contributing toward freedom of expression and the realization of an inclusive and democratic Myanmar for all the country’s peoples. For more info, please see: https://www.mizzima.com/
