Organizer: The Southeast Asian Research Group (SEARG) of the University of Wisconsin-Madison

Type/Location: Online

Description:

The current civil war in Burma/Myanmar is one of the most complex conflicts in modern history. After ousting the democratically elected civil government in February 2021, the current military junta has cracked down on mass protests and non-violent movements, leading to armed resistance from various ethnic groups across the country. Despite the continued harassment and violence inflicted by the junta, the conflict remains unnoticed by mainstream media, both in the West and in Southeast Asia.

The Southeast Asian Research Group (SEARG) of the University of Wisconsin-Madison is inviting Burmese activists, Human Rights defenders, and Burmese scholars in order to foster greater awareness and understanding of the conflict which has uprooted communities and the peoples of Burma/Myanmar.

There is an urgency to mobilize and advocate for justice for people in Burma. The current media and academic inattention to the civil war renders the conflict and its consequences a black box that hinders both academic understanding and public action. By lifting the fog of war from the grassroots perspective, we hope to provide a space for those directly affected to convey their voices, concerns, and calls-for-action.

About the Speakers:

Toe Zaw Latt (Secretary, Independent Press Council of Myanmar): Struggle for democracy and federalism in Burma: Resilience, resistance and reflection

Tharaphi Than (Associate Professor in Department of World Languages and Cultures, Northern Illinois University)

Salai Za Uk Ling (Deputy Executive Director for Chin Human Rights Organization): The human rights and humanitarian challenges of post-coup junta's atrocities in Chin State

Brad (Senior Analyst, The Myanmar Internet Project): Hello from the other side: Myanmar’s stories of internet struggles

Moderator: Ei Thin Zar, People's Radio Myanmar

Registration Link:

To attend the event online, please register here.