Myanmar Two Years after the Coup: Return of the Past?

Two years after the February 2021 military coup, Myanmar is back under closed military rule following a brutal crackdown on the Civil Disobedience Movement. Armed conflicts between the military and ethnic armed organisations are escalating, and international isolation is again increasing. While there are many reminders of the past, there are marked differences here too: While in previous eras of military rule armed resistance was limited to ethnic-minority areas, it has now spread to parts of Central Myanmar as well. The Myanmar military has seen unprecedented numbers of defections, and more inclusive opposition movements have formed in exile. Following a decade of relative openness, a new generation of Myanmar activists, intellectuals, and researchers with more connections to the international community has emerged. 

What are the prospects for positive change in the country? Has the opposition found unity, or do long-standing divisions between major opposition forces persist? Will the opposition be able to replace the military government? And, what role can the international community play here? We will discuss these key questions with renowned experts and policymakers.

Speakers:  Ma Thida is an author, journalist, human rights activist, and the founder of PEN Myanmar. 

Prof. Dr. Stein Tønnesson is a Research Professor at the Peace Research Institute Oslo (PRIO). 

Discussants:  Heidi Hautala is Vice-President of the European Parliament, responsible for Human Rights and Democracy. 

Dr. Jan Freigang is Head of the Southeast Asia and ASEAN Desk at the German Federal Foreign Office. 

Moderator:  Dr. Jasmin Lorch is an Annemarie Schimmel Scholar at the University of Erfurt and an Associate at the GIGA Institute for Asian Studies.