Rewriting History
Coming Soon…
The 4th International Conference on Burma/Myanmar Studies (ICBMS) took place in August 2024, hosted by Chiang Mai University's Regional Center for Social Science and Sustainable Development (RCSD). The event brought together scholars, activists, and experts to discuss the complex political, social, and economic challenges facing Myanmar. Topics ranged from ongoing conflicts and peace processes to human rights and the aftermath of the 2021 coup, all aimed at fostering dialogue, research, and advocacy for sustainable solutions. With an estimated attendance of over 800, it’s likely one of the largest events of its kind.
Insight Myanmar Podcast was given exclusive access to conduct short interviews with guests in attendance. These quick segments, averaging just ten minutes each, offer a fresh format compared to our usual longform interviews. What we bring you is something truly special: in a single episode, listeners are exposed to a wide range of topics and perspectives, touching on themes like gender equality, ethnic identity, digital security, mental health, art and architecture, food security, and more. In total, we interviewed 18 guests, and this four-part series presents their insights. This is the third installment.
Charlotte Galloway is an Honorary Associate Professor at the Australian National University who has been working in Myanmar since 1999, focusing on art history, archaeology, and heritage conservation. Her research began with a focus on the early Bagan period (1044-1113), and led to extensive training in museum curation and administration, and cultural preservation projects. Charlotte has played a significant role in cataloging museum collections and contributing to the UNESCO World Heritage listing for Bagan. She discusses how Myanmar’s academic scholarship was largely stagnant after the 1962 military coup, but witnessed a resurgence in the transition years, only to be disrupted again by the 2021 coup. Charlotte has also supported higher education reform in Myanmar, particularly in research training and curriculum development. She underscores the importance of restoring local scholarship and cultural heritage, which the coup had abruptly ended. “During the last decade of the sort of democracy period in Myanmar, when people were allowed to start moving again within the country, let alone having foreigners come in as tourists, the absolute resurgence in the number of people in Myanmar who found Bagan so fascinating, and the Ananda Temple festival went from [something] smaller… to this explosion of activity every year where people would come to make merit and be part of what they clearly feel deeply embedded in their psyche as part of their cultural history.”
“Eileen” (a pseudonym used for safety) is a Burmese youth activist who was formerly part of the Student Union, and played a key role in organizing protest movements against the military regime. Having to move to Thailand for safety concerns, she has actively advocated for greater involvement by Thai society in Myanmar's crisis, particularly focusing on engaging Thai MPs, activists, and youth. She emphasizes the need for Thailand and the international community to adopt more proactive and unconventional approaches to support Myanmar, in contrast to their current reactive, and traditional diplomatic strategies. Eileen remains committed to bridging the gap between the creative resistance efforts of Myanmar’s youth and the structured responses of neighboring countries. “Thai-Myanmar relations is not always about Bangkok to Nay Pyi Daw relations! Thailand and Myanmar have a very, very long borderline, and the people residing along the borderline, they are quite important and significant too. They have a lot to say.”
Peter Morris, who appeared on a previous episode, is a lawyer, part-time journalist and teacher, who has been closely observing and participating in discussions about Myanmar's political future. He expresses optimism about the success of the Spring Revolution, and believes that Myanmar's resistance forces, including the ethnic armed organizations and the younger generation, are united against the common enemy of military dictatorship. He highlights the growing solidarity among Myanmar's diaspora, many of whom maintain close ties to their homeland. Drawing on historical patterns of diverse peoples coming together in the face of a common threat, Peter asserts that despite internal conflicts, the determination of the Myanmar people to overthrow the military will prevail. He also emphasizes the role of youth and women in leadership positions within the revolution. “Myanmar is a beacon of hope for the entire world, right? It's just that people don't know about it… If people back in the States knew how people in the revolution are overcoming these enormous odds and are so passionate to reestablish democracy, that would really give them hope.”
“Beverley” (a pseudonym used for safety) is a psychologist working in the mental health and psychosocial support fields. She highlights the significant rise in mental health issues since the coup, such as heightened fear, anxiety, and uncertainty. While mental health awareness began improving during COVID-19, she describes how the coup has exacerbated people's psychological distress, affecting daily life, children's education, and financial security. Beverley explains that traditionally, many Burmese turn to religious and spiritual practices for psychological support, so the concept of seeking professional counseling remains relatively new. Despite this, there has been a gradual shift towards openness in addressing mental health, although access to services remains limited in many areas due to logistical challenges. “If they don't join [CDM], they feel guilty if they cannot be involved very actively. They feel guilty for those who are joining. And there is also grief when they start losing their family members, when they join to armed groups, or when their close friends got arrested. There are a lot of mental health issues that people are facing! It is so immense and massive, which is too much for the people.”
Nang Moet Moet is a leader from the Women’s League of Burma (WLB), an umbrella organization for women’s groups, particularly those from ethnic minorities and conflict zones. She focuses on peace, reconciliation, women’s political empowerment, and documenting sexual and gender-based violence committed by the Burmese military. Nang Moet Moet emphasizes the importance of meaningful participation by ethnic women in political negotiations and decision-making processes. Since the 2021 coup, the organization has shifted its focus to emergency and humanitarian support, addressing challenges faced by internally displaced persons (IDPs), especially women and children. She also highlights “intersectionality" in the current revolution; that is, how people from various ethnic backgrounds have united to fight not only against military dictatorship but also against patriarchy and gender oppression, envisioning a new federal and democratic Burma. “When we look at women lawyers who are providing pro-bono support to the women human rights [defenders], they all play really significant role. But women are underrepresented in the decision making and in the leading roles! So even though they play significant role in different sector, but they are underrepresented in the NUG and NUCC.”