Organizer: Foreign Correspondents’ Club of Thailand
Description:
One year after Myanmar’s military ousted the National League for Democracy government, junta leader Min Aung Hlaing has failed to consolidate power amid intensifying conflict in many parts of the country. Savage campaigns by security forces to stamp out resistance have seen more than 320,000 people displaced since the February 1 coup, bringing the total of internally displaced to at least 660,000 according to United Nations estimates. At least 1,500 civilians have been killed and nearly 11,700 arrested.
The deepening humanitarian crisis has left hundreds of thousands without adequate food, shelter, or medical supplies, while U.N. agencies predict that nearly half the population could be living below the poverty line by mid-2022, almost double the pre-coup level. Myanmar’s economy shrank by around 18 percent in 2021 according to IMF and World Bank estimates, with predictions of zero growth at best in 2022. Fueling the economic crisis has been the steady exodus of western investors, including most recently the announced withdrawals from Myanmar of oil and gas majors TotalEnergies and Chevron.
What comes next? The junta, known as the State Administration Council, has promised elections in 2023, although few believe that any poll under the military rule would be free or fair. Reflecting widespread opposition to the junta, protests continue to shore up the Civil Disobedience Movement and the proliferation of “people’s defense forces” in urban and rural areas. Pro-democracy forces have come together under the National Unity Consultative Council and the parallel National Unity Government, while many have turned to ethnic groups for support. The international community seems both ineffectual and divided on a cohesive Myanmar response. Where do pro-democracy forces go from here, and what are the options for domestic, regional, and international actors?
Speakers:
Naw Hser Hser, Secretary-General, Women’s League of Burma.
Min Zin, Executive Director, Institute for Strategy and Policy Myanmar.
Padoh Saw Taw Nee, Head of Foreign Department of Karen National Union.
Thinzar Shunlei Yi, Advocacy Coordinator, ACDD (Action Committee for Democracy Development) and foreign affairs committee member of General Strike Committee.
Anthony Davis, Regional security analyst, and consultant for Janes Defence Publishing Group.
Moderator:
Gwen Robinson, past president, FCCT.
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