What's Happening in Myanmar

With Nandar, member of the Generations Solidarity Coalition of Nationalities, and participant in the anti-sham elections campaign. This week on episode 43 of What’s Happening in Myanmar, coup leader Senior General Min Aung Hlaing is in China, while at home his military continues its offensives killing civilians, revolutionaries try to prevent the region from accepting the legitimacy of the military’s planned elections, and we discuss the Anti-Sham Election Campaign’s aims and strategies. Email the show at whimyanmar@proton.me Timecodes— 02m03s :: News roundup 05m16s :: With Nandar, the Anti-Sham Election Campaign 15m26s :: Legitimacy 28m11s :: Close Our guests— Nandar, from the Generations Solidarity Coalition Nationalities The Sham Election Campaign Linktree New original content on the Frontier website: The junta positions itself in the new world order Fear and voting in Myanmar: Junta election heralds more violence Further referenced this episode: Will the China–Myanmar meandering railway project get started soon? David Mathieson on the ANU’s Myanmar Research Centre podcast in 2018

With Nicholas Coppel, former Australian ambassador to Myanmar and president of the Australia Myanmar Institute. This week on episode 42 of What’s Happening in Myanmar, the military captures two mines from resistance forces, the historic Gokteik viaduct sustains major damage, and we discuss the consequences of the military’s planned elections starting on December 28. Email the show at whimyanmar@proton.me Timecodes— 01m31s :: Conflict updates 05m16s :: With Nicholas Copperl, the military elections 25m25s :: Is it all about Min Aung Hlaing? 33m43s :: The military’s plans post-election 38m04s :: Close Our guests— Nicholas Coppel, former Australian ambassador to Myanmar from 2015 to 2018, honorary fellow at the University of Melbourne, and president of the Australia Myanmar Institute. His latest publication: Media weaponisation in Myanmar and the world’s relative indifference to its crisis

With Stephen Campbell, associate professor in Social Sciences at Nanyang Technological University, and Joseph Young, Daily Briefing writer at Frontier Myanmar. This week on episode 41 of What’s Happening in Myanmar, massive airstrikes occur around the country as the military continues offensives, and we discuss union members being sent to Insein prison, and the UWSA’s declaration of non-assistance after admitting pressure from China. Email the show at whimyanmar@proton.me Timecodes— 00m52s :: Union members sent to Insein02m55s :: With Stephen Campbell, the STUM and Myo Myo Aye 15m25s :: Economic agenda before the coup21m13s :: With Joseph Young, conflict and UWSA statement38m58s :: Close Our guests— Stephen Campbell, associate professor, School of Social Sciences, Nanyang Technological University And Joseph Young, daily briefing writer for Frontier Myanmar Other new content on the Frontier website: Back in business: Zahkung Ting Ying tries to rebuild his empire After the flood: Heavy rain hits hard on Kachin’s border with China Shattered sanctuaries: Quake-damaged mosques fight for survival Check out the latest episode of Doh Athan, Frontier’s podcast on human rights issues in Myanmar.

With Hka San Lwi, editor-in-chief of Kachin Waves. This week on What’s Happening in Myanmar, major ethnic armed organisations make statements on peace and war, the military presses its advantage right across the country, and we discuss why the struggle for Bhamo remains the most consequential battle for the revolution going forward. Email the show at whimyanmar@proton.me Timecodes— 01m18s :: News roundup 05m09s :: With Hka San Lwi, continuing fighting for Bhamo 27m52s :: Flash flooding in Laiza 28m35s :: Close Our guests— Hka San Lwi, editor-in-chief of Kachin Waves New content on the Frontier website: The price of control: War sinks Rakhine State’s economy ‘Unable to compete’: Northern Shan faces wave of Chinese investment

With Emily Fishbein, freelance journalist currently serving as a Pulitzer Center Rainforest Investigations Network fellow, and Hpan Ja Brang, social justice activist and freelance journalist from Kachinland. This week on What’s Happening in Myanmar, the TNLA pushed firmly on the defensive, the Arakan Army permits Starlink registrations in war-torn Rakhine State, and we discuss the KIA’s resumption of rare earth mining around Pangwa. Email the show at whimyanmar@proton.me Timecodes— 01m04s :: TNLA put on the defensive 02m26s :: Arakan Army allows Starlink 05m16s :: With Emily Fishbein and Hpan Ja Brang, the Pangwa mining pause 33m50s :: Holding the KIO to account 42m43s :: Close Our guests— Emily Fishbein, freelance journalist currently serving as a Pulitzer Center Rainforest Investigations Network fellow Hpan Ja Brang, social justice activist and freelance journalist from Kachinland Their feature story: ‘Strategic bargaining chips’: Kachin’s rare earth mining pause Other new content on the Frontier website: ‘Worse than ever’: Inwa tourism in ruinsBribes, graft and kickbacks: Corruption with impunity

With Pai Deetes, Southeast Asia Program Regional Campaigns Director at International Rivers. This week on What’s Happening in Myanmar, the military regime lifts the state of emergency and enacts new laws for elections, making coup leader Min Aung Hlaing the temporary acting president, and we discuss the transboundary water contamination from mines in Myanmar affecting northern Thailand. Email the show at whimyanmar@proton.me Timecodes— 00m50s :: News round up 02m30s :: Military groundwork for elections 06m34s :: U.S. sanctions lifted and rare earth lobbying 09m23s :: With Pai Deetes, contamination of northern Thai rivers 32m22s :: Escalating the issue to regional fora 38m58s :: Close Our guest— Pai Deetes, the Southeast Asia Program Regional Campaigns Director at International Rivers New content on the Frontier website: https://www.frontiermyanmar.net/en/hitting-the-brakes-junta-cracks-down-on-unlicensed-vehicles/

With Dr Kid, communications officer of the Myanmar Defence and Security Institute. This week on What’s Happening in Myanmar, the military takes back Thabeikkyin, while giving out rice and detaining suspects in Nawnghkio, and we discuss how soldiers who escape the army are working to expose the regime’s weaknesses and defeat the military. Email the show at whimyanmar@proton.me Timecodes— 01m04s :: Nawnghkio under military rule02m10s :: Thabeikkyin retaken 04m14s :: With Dr Kid, the Myanmar Defence and Security Institute13m04s :: Changes in military command structure33m42s :: Being a CDM soldier in 202541m56s :: Close Our guest— Dr Kid, communications officer of the MDSI Its reports on conscription and the air force command New content on the Frontier website: ‘We are living in fear’: Kidnappings menace Monywa True believers: The Myanmar-Americans who stand with Trump  

With Greg Constantine, documentary photographer. This week on What’s Happening in Myanmar, the military marches into Nawnghkio, and we discuss the history and identity of the Rohingya community through the lens of the new Ek Khaale exhibition. Email the show at whimyanmar@proton.me Timecodes— 00m57s :: Nawnghkio taken by military03m06s :: With Greg Constantine, the Ek Khaale exhibition19m51s :: The Rohingya and history as a chain reaction37m20s :: Close Our guest— Greg Constantine, documentary photographer The exhibition online: EK KHAALE - Once Upon A Time - The Rohingya New content on the Frontier website: ‘Ticking time bomb’: Shoddy post-quake reconstruction puts more Myanmar lives at risk

With outgoing Frontier Myanmar editor-in-chief Ben Dunant and incoming editor-in-chief Thu Thu Aung. This week on What’s Happening in Myanmar, our two editors talk about Frontier and the Myanmar media landscape as Thu Thu takes the reigns from Ben, who is moving on after seven years at Frontier. Email the show at whimyanmar@proton.me Timecodes— 01m51s :: Introducing Thu Thu Aung04m35s :: Ben being a foreign journalist before the coup07m01s :: Thu Thu’s career 19m06s :: Ben as editor-in-chief in exile28m08s :: Frontier’s 10th birthday28m56s :: Close Our guests— Thu Thu Aung, Frontier’s editor-in-chief Ben Dunant, Frontier’s outgoing editor-in-chief New content on the Frontier website: A ‘brotherly’ fight: Chin factions battle over Indian border Fighting to the last: The TNLA digs in Other Frontier reports mentioned in this episode: The misrule of Inle Lake

With Shayna Bauchner, Asia researcher for Human Rights Watch, and Thiri, an independent researcher. This week on What’s Happening in Myanmar, Belarus support for the Myanmar air force is exposed, another jet goes down, and we discuss the surge in the use of child soldiers by the State Administration Council. Email the show at whimyanmar@proton.me Timecodes— 01m28s :: Belarus helps Myanmar air force 03m04s :: Another jet down 04m30s :: With Shayna Bauchner and Thiri, child soldiers in the military 25m01s :: Child soldiers resisting the military 31m31s :: Close  Our guests— Shayna Bauchner, Asia researcher for Human Rights Watch Thiri, an independent researcher working with the same organisation HRW Myanmar: Stop Recruitment, Use of Child Soldiers Other reports mentioned in this episode: ကန်ဒေါင့်ရဲစခန်းတိုက်ပွဲမှာ စစ်မှုထမ်းကလေးစစ်သားတစ်ဦး ဖမ်းမိ UN Secretary General’s Annual Report on Children and Armed Conflict Junta dragnet: More youth abducted in desperate conscription drive The war from the sky: How drone warfare is shaping the conflict in Myanmar

With Ya Nwe, Frontier Myanmar journalist. This week on What’s Happening in Myanmar, gains to workers’ wages widen with momentum from May Day, and coup leader Senior General Min Aung Hlaing gives a peace performance in earthquake-devastated Nay Pyi Taw. Email the show at whimyanmar@proton.me Timecodes— 01m21s :: Peace Conference and Belarus 04m39s :: With Ya New, Tsang Yih strikes, wage gains, and ILO convention 18m00s :: Lack of SAC and police interference 23m11s :: Future goals for the labour movement 25m02s :: Close  Our guests— Ya Nwe, journalist with Frontier Myanmar Striking gold: Myanmar workers score higher wages And new content on the website: ‘I try to keep myself busy’: Working online in the world’s largest refugee camp

With Thomas Kean, senior consultant for Myanmar and Bangladesh with International Crisis Group. This week on What’s Happening in Myanmar, the Arakan Army tightens its noose and expands its buffer zone as soldiers defect in Kyaukphyu and Ngape, and we discuss Rohingya armed group organizing in the refugee camps of Cox’s Bazaar, Bangladesh. Email the show at whimyanmar@proton.me Timecodes— 01m10s :: The Arakan Army’s dominant position05m23s :: With Tom Kean, Rohingya armed group organising17m46s :: Dire conditions in Bangladesh refugee camps31m31s :: Close Our guests— Thomas Kean, senior consultant for Myanmar and Bangladesh with International Crisis Group His new report with International Crisis Group And new content on the website: Striking gold: Myanmar workers score higher wages New Frontier: Award-winning Myanmar journalist to lead newsroom

With Lway Noon, a Ta’ang activist and researcher, and Francesco Buscemi, post-doctoral fellow in geography at the University of Bologna. This week on What’s Happening in Myanmar, a jet fighter shot down, fresh hopes for Myanmar workers, and we talk about the new administration in Ta’ang National Liberation Army territory. Email the show at whimyanmar@proton.me Timecodes— 01m10s :: New ILO resolution03m05s :: Jet fighter downed05m18s :: With Lway Noon & Francesco Buscemi, administrating Ta’ang Land51m01s :: Close Our guests— Francesco Buscemi, post-doctoral fellow in Geography at the University of Bologna: His new book on the TNLA And Lway Noon, Ta’ang activist and researcher New original content on the Frontier website since our last episode: Beyond Rakhine: Arakan Army advance brings hope and fearElectronic oppression: The junta sharpens its instruments of control And also referenced in this episode: UN labour agency revives sanctions against Myanmar junta

With Tony Neil, PhD candidate in the Department of International Development at the London School of Economics and Political Science and visiting fellow at the Australian National University, and Saw Day Hsi, a Karen researcher in Kawthoolei. This week on What’s Happening in Myanmar, floods affect the north and southwest, the Shangri La dialogue generates more politicospeak, and the Karen resistance makes big gains on the Thailand-Myanmar border. Timecodes— 01m19s :: Shangri La dialogue 02m50s :: Floods06m23s :: Karen resistance victories09m18s :: With Tony Neil & Saw Day Hsi, Karen resistance strategy39m17s :: Close Our guests— Saw Day Hsi, Karen researcher and Kawthoolei native, and Tony Neil, PhD candidate at the London School of Economics and Political Science, and Visiting Fellow at the Australian National University See his bio at LSEHis thoughts on the Karen National Union’s governance as bricolageHis latest publication with the Centre on Armed Groups New original content on the Frontier website since our last episode: Compensation overload: Insurance companies struggle after quake And also referenced in this episode: The latest episode of Doh AthanControl of Sittaung River basin in hands of resistance, Karen fighters

With Dr. Monalisa Adhikari, senior lecturer in international politics at the University of Stirling. This week on What’s Happening in Myanmar, mass Rohingya drownings at sea, KNLA victories, TNLA defeats, and we discuss the negativity surrounding the recent ASEAN summit in Malaysia and its ineffectual statement on Myanmar. Email the show at whimyanmar@proton.me Timecodes— 01m07s :: News roundup06m57s :: With Monalisa Adhikari, the ASEAN summit27m10s :: India and China working with ASEAN32m00s :: Peace processes in Myanmar37m46s :: Close Our guests— Monalisa Adhikari See her institutional bio here for a list of her publications New original content on the Frontier website since our last episode: Editorial: ASEAN is sliding into irrelevance on Myanmar ‘They look down on us for being Muslims’: Kaman marginalised in Yangon And also referenced in this episode: Justice For Myanmar’s recent report The UNOHCHR’s recent report

With Angshuman Choudhury, doctoral candidate at the National University of Singapore and King's College London. This week on What’s Happening in Myanmar, thousands of workers successfully strike for better factory conditions, and we discuss the murky killing of 10 Myanmar rebels by India’s Assam Rifles. Email the show at whimyanmar@proton.me Timecodes— 01m02s :: Successful strike in Hlaingtharya West03m37s :: With Angshuman Choudhury, killings in Tamu21m50s :: India and the Rohingya29m18s :: Close Our guests— Angshuman Choudhury, Doctoral candidate in Comparative Asian Studies at the National University of Singapore and King's College London, and a long-time watcher of India-Myanmar affairs New content on the Frontier website since our last episode: Rights deferred: Citizenship reform mothballed in Myanmar

With Richard Horsey, senior Myanmar adviser at the International Crisis Group. This week on What’s Happening in Myanmar, the military kills dozens of civilians in multiple major air strikes across the country, coup leader Min Aung Hlaing visits Russia again, and we discuss Myanmar’s relationship with that country. Email the show at whimyanmar@proton.me Timecodes— 00m55s :: Air strikes kill children and civilians03m37s :: With Richard Horsey, Min Aung Hlaing’s jubilance09m35s :: The Myanmar-Russia relationship30m32s :: Close Our guests— Richard Horsey, Senior Myanmar Adviser at the International Crisis Group. Richard’s 2022 report with the International Crisis Group on Myanmar-Russia relationsAnd check out the group’s recent April briefing on the Myanmar-India border New content on the Frontier website since our last episode: Logged out: Conflict drives deforestation in Bago mountains

With Jared Bissinger, a visiting fellow at the Myanmar Studies Program at ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute in Singapore and research lead at Catalyst Economics. This week on What’s Happening in Myanmar, eyes are still on northern Shan State as the military pressures the TNLA after retaking Lashio, and we discuss how armed groups in Myanmar run their economies. Email the show at whimyanmar@proton.me Join the Frontier team! We’re seeking a Managing Editor to help lead our newsroom. Find out more here Timecodes— 01m09s :: Northern Shan State news06m40s :: With Jared Bissinger, non-state actors’ economic governance42m11s :: Close  Our guest— Jared Bissinger, a visiting fellow at the Myanmar Studies Program at ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute in Singapore and research lead at Catalyst Economics. His ISEAS and Singapore work: Economic Governance of Non-State Authorities in Myanmar: Potentials and Pitfalls Challenges and Priorities for Myanmar’s Conflicted Economy Myanmar’s Earthquake Threatens a Lasting Economic Scar The State Administration Council and the Restyling of Myanmar’s Economy Myanmar’s Resistance and the Future of Border Trade: Challenges and Opportunities New content on the Frontier website since our last episode: ‘They don’t represent us’: Rohingya armed groups wreak havoc in Rakhine Q&A: Explaining Myanmar’s private security law  

With Htet Aung, a journalist with Frontier Myanmar. This week on What’s Happening in Myanmar, the military floats moving its damaged ministries back to Yangon while killing hundreds of people in the month since the March 28 earthquake, and we discuss the challenges of reporting on the quake and its devastating aftermath in Mandalay and Sagaing. Email the show at whimyanmar@proton.me Join the Frontier team! We’re seeking a Managing Editor to help lead our newsroom. Find out more here Timecodes— 01m15s :: A month after the quake05m56s :: With Htet Aung, reporting on the quake16m30s :: Naypyitaw and damaged ministries22m50s :: Close  Our guests— Htet Aung, independent journalist, and regular contributor to our newsletters and features New content on the Frontier website since our last episode: Striking oil: Magway Region’s resource wealth draws junta fire

With Danseng Lawn, director of the Kachinland Research Centre, and independent journalist Lorcan Lovett. This week on What’s Happening in Myanmar, the military reoccupies Lashio with help from the MNDAA and China, while still fighting the TNLA nearby, and we discuss the military defeats this month at Falam and Indaw. Email the show at whimyanmar@proton.me Timecodes— 01m21s :: Lashio back in the fold06m08s :: With Danseng Lawn, Indaw military defeat21m14s :: With Lorcan Lovett, Falam military defeat37m04s :: Close Our guests— Lorcan Lovett, independent journalist, his On Myanmar Substack And Dan Seng Lawn, Director of the Kachinland Research Centre New content on the Frontier website since our last episode— US aid cuts kneecap Myanmar in fight against tuberculosis Myanmar’s resistance faces a moral quandary after the quake New junta rules curb aid to Mandalay quake victims