47th #WhatsHappeninginMyanmar Monthly Updates
November 30 @ 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm
On 30 November 2024 at 4-5pm (Bangkok Time), SEA Junction in collaboration with media partners, Mizzima and The Irrawaddy, will hold the 47th #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 three 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. Ethnic Armed Organizations (EAOs) are taking control strategically important areas in Kachin, Kayah, Chin, Rakhine and Shan after 1027 operations led by Three Brotherhood Alliance: the Arakan Army (AA), Myanmar National Democrative Alliance Army (MNDAA) and Ta’ang National Army (TNLA)
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 of The Irrawaddy; Khin Ohmar, a well-known Peace and Security Advocate; Debbie Stothard, an active promoter of human rights in Burma and the ASEAN regions; May Zin Thaw, the founder of a local think tank institute Researchers’ Republic and Toe Zaw Latt, R&D consultant, Mizzima Media Group. On this November, Khin Ohmar, a well-known Peace and Security Advocate, will provide an analysis of the latest events.
To participate, tune in for the monthly update planned for 30 November at 4-5pm (Bangkok Time) via Zoom ((Link: https://bit.ly/MyanmarUpdates2024) and Facebook Live on our page: SEA Junction, Mizzima-Myanmar News – English Edition, and The Irrawaddy – English Edition.
Speaker Profile:
Ms. Khin Ohmar is an experienced peace and security advocate from Myanmar. For the past 30 years, she has worked with fellow Burmese democracy activists as well as with ethnic women and youth from conflict-affected areas in Myanmar, including Kachin, Karen, Lahu and Rohingya. In 2008, Ms. Ohmar won the Anna Lindh Prize, awarded annually to a woman or young person with “the courage to fight indifference, prejudice, oppression and injustices in order to promote a good life for all people in an environment marked by respect for human rights.” The award citation stated, “Her courageous and visionary work is a source of inspiration for all those engaged in the struggle for human rights and for a life of dignity.” She also won the 2008 Vital Voices Global Leadership Award for Human Rights, which she shared with Shan Women’s Action Network activist Charm Tong. US First Lady Laura Bush, the award’s presenter, described Khin Ohmar as “one of the strongest voices against Burma’s violent regime.”
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 Partners:
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/
The Irrawaddy
The Irrawaddy is a leading source of reliable news, information, and analysis on Burma/Myanmar and the Southeast Asian region. From its inception in 1993, The Irrawaddy has been an independent news media group, unaffiliated with any political party, organization or government. Founded in Thailand by a group of young Burmese activists who were forced to flee the persecution of the then military regime over the 1988 democracy uprisings, The Irrawaddy has a strong belief in democracy, and the crucial role of independent and accountable media for a democratic society. Since the opening up of the country in 2012, The Irrawaddy was able to move to Myanmar and operate from within the country, but it is now being threatened and its journalists are at grave risks as they continue reporting. For more information see: https://www.irrawaddy.com/about
