-
Myanmar’s Cinema Centenary and Film Censorship
The 2018 documentary film Child of the Revolution opens with a shot of the rolling green mountains in Myanmar’s eastern Kayin State. A Karen woman begins her story—that of a family torn apart by decades of conflict but committed to improving access to education in the community. “I wanted to make a film about Karen…
-
Myanmar Women Seek Social and Political Change in 2020
Nearly five million first time voters (aged 18-22) are anticipated to cast their ballots in Myanmar’s 2020 general election on 8 November, according to figures from the last census. While youth involvement in political parties is uncommon, the number of women standing as candidates in the election – the country’s second since the transition from…
-
Southeast Asia Dispatches: Freedom of Expression in Myanmar
After winning the general elections in 2015, the National League for Democracy (NLD) became the first democratically elected, civilian-led government in Myanmar since 1962, which kindled hope that the country would see a significant shift in freedom of expression. Almost five years on, substantive changes have yet to happen. On this week’s episode of Southeast…
-
Myanmar’s menacing frontier
The dangers of reporting on Myanmar’s border-security forces and their business interests. Journalist Naw Betty Han rubs the bruises on her wrists left by the handcuffs she was forced to wear while detained for 27 hours by the Kayin State’s Border Guard Force (BGF) – a unit under the command of Myanmar’s military. In early…
-
This 25-year-old podcaster is Myanmar’s leading voice for gender equality
Nandar is trying to build a movement through her two podcasts. Sitting cross-legged on a couch, Nandar (who goes by one name) places a pair of headphones over her ears and a lapel microphone on her collar. Seated across from her, in a makeshift home recording studio, is A.J., a feminist documentary filmmaker. Nandar, 25,…
-
Southeast Asia Dispatches: Myanmar’s Trailblazing Podcaster
On this week’s episode of Southeast Asia Dispatches, Adam Bemma speaks to Myanmar’s trailblazing podcaster, Nandar. Last year, Nandar started the G-Taw Zagar Wyne podcast along with members of her Purple Feminists Group in Yangon to amplify women’s voices in the country. The name G-Taw Zagar Wyne comes from a nickname Nandar was given growing…
-
Myanmar’s ‘Peacock Generation’ silenced as political prisoners being politicized
Three Burmese men wearing traditional blue longyis shackled at the waist and feet carefully step down, one after the other, from a police truck in Ayeyarwady Region – 84 kms from the commercial capital, Yangon. Armed officers lead Zayar Lwin, Paing Ye Thu and Paing Phyo Min into a courthouse. The three are members of…
-
Yangon’s Pirates of Pansodan St. – A new copyright law may bankrupt Myanmar’s book business
Along Yangon’s Pansodan Street toward Merchant Road, located among the heritage Victorian buildings of colonial-era Rangoon, a pirated book market thrives. The books lining the shelves of street-side stalls, or inside adjacent bookstores, give the appearance of a booming business, featuring longtime bestsellers from Aung San Suu Kyi’s Freedom from Fear and Letters from Burma…
-
Aung San Suu Kyi turns to Facebook to get coronavirus message out
Myanmar leader’s live broadcasts on Facebook draws hundreds of thousands of views. YANGON, Myanmar – Broadcasting live from Myanmar’s capital, Naypyidaw, Aung San Suu Kyi shuffled some papers, looked straight at the camera and smiled before welcoming her guests to a teleconference call on Facebook. “Currently, migrant workers are coming back from Thailand and some…
-
Rohingya Refugee Voices Amplify Across Southeast Asia
BANGKOK — The 2017 Rohingya humanitarian crisis caused by Myanmar is not only affecting Bangladesh, which has taken in 740,000 refugees, but it’s also causing strife in Malaysia, Indonesia and Thailand. Despite Myanmar’s alleged attempts at repatriation, Rohingya have stayed put in camps and cities fearing the security situation in their villages and towns of Rakhine…
-
Subscribe
Subscribed
Already have a WordPress.com account? Log in now.
Adam Bemma 