What's Happening in Myanmar

With Michael Haack, an activist and board member of Campaign for a New Myanmar. This week on episode 55 of  What's Happening in Myanmar , the Karen National Liberation Army takes control of a Myawaddy scam compound, the military re-enters Mogok and Mongmit, Belarusian president Aleksandr Lukashenko visits Nay Pyi Taw, and we talk about the Trump administration's many bombshells this week affecting...

With Joseph Young, Daily Briefing newsletter writer for Frontier Myanmar. This week on episode 54 of What's Happening in Myanmar , the Karen National Liberation Army takes another border town, the Philippines announces its 2026 ASEAN special envoy on Myanmar, the military raids the Shwe Kokko scam compound, and we talk about China's influence on northern Shan State and what's behind the military's...

With Khin Hnin Phyu Soe, freelance journalist. This week on episode 53 of What's Happening in Myanmar , the US steps up its fight against scams in Southeast Asia as the regime continues its demolitions at KK Park, another Rohingya boat tragedy occurs, the military kills over 20 civilians in its attacks around the country, and we discuss the increase in underage girls marrying to avoid conscription...

With Laur Kiik, Burma studies researcher and postdoctoral fellow at the University of Oslo. This week on episode 52 of  What's Happening in Myanmar , the military detains civilians for supposedly criticising its so-called elections, the fallout from demolitions at KK Park scam compound increases, and we discuss livelihoods at the Myitsone confluence in Kachin State—including the likelihood of the...

With Aung Khant, coordinator of the Myanmar Freedom of Religion or Belief Network. This week on episode 51 of  What's Happening in Myanmar , ASEAN dithers once again, the military's UEC announces more election updates, the Ta'ang National Liberation Army signs a ceasefire ceding Mogok and Mongmit to the military, and we discuss religious freedom in Myanmar since the 2021 coup. Email the show at  w...

With Hunter Marston, adjunct fellow at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. This week on episode 50 of  What's Happening in Myanmar , the UEC announces election campaigning restrictions, SpaceX cuts off Starlink for scammers, and we discuss the upcoming ASEAN summit scheduled for this weekend, U.S. and Chinese policy on Myanmar, and more. Email the show at whimyanmar@proton.me Timec...

With Jacob Sims, visiting fellow at Harvard University's Asia Centre. This week on episode 49 of  What's Happening in Myanmar , election campaign updates and voter list concerns, the military retakes Hsipaw, and we discuss human trafficking and the fallout of the scam crackdown from earlier this year. Email the show at whimyanmar@proton.me Timecodes— 01m10s :: Election updates 04m07s :: Nat Yay Ka...

With Amaël Vier, election consultant and analyst, and Tharindu Abeyrathna, senior program officer for campaign and advocacy at the Asian Network for Free Elections. This week on episode 48 of What's Happening in Myanmar , the military massacres civilians at a Buddhist holiday commemoration, the Union Election Commission posts problematic voter lists, and we discuss the new ANFREL assessment report...

With Carlos Sardiña Galache, author and Frontier Myanmar digital editor. This week on episode 47 of What's Happening in Myanmar , the military retakes Kyaukme, Senior General Min Aung Hlaing returns from Central Asia as his air force kills dozens of civilians across the country, and we discuss this week's United Nations conference on the Rohingya along with Arakan Army leadership.  Email the show...

With Dustin Barter and Stella Naw, two co-authors of a new ODI report on humanitarianism and revolutionary state-building in Myanmar. This week on episode 46 of What's Happening in Myanmar , the resistance takes Banmauk, a Kachin Independence Army camp is hit with a precision airstrike, rights organisations react to Sweden ceasing development aid, and we discuss why international donors and humani...

With Naing Min Khant, emerging researcher at the Institute for Strategy and Policy, Myanmar. This week on episode 45 of What's Happening in Myanmar , the military regime makes gains in Bhamo, the air force bombs and kills dozens of students at a high school, the Union Election Commission declares 56 townships will not be part of December's so-called elections, and we discuss the likelihood of chan...

With Michael Lidauer, an international elections expert with experience in Myanmar since 2010. This week on episode 44 of What's Happening in Myanmar , the Kayin State Border Guard Force declares its support for the military's elections, as its leaders and associates are sanctioned by the United States for facilitating the scam industry, and we discuss the technical aspects of the military running...

With Nandar, member of the Generations Solidarity Coalition of Nationalities, and participant in the anti-sham elections campaign. This week on episode 43 of What's Happening in Myanmar , coup leader Senior General Min Aung Hlaing is in China, while at home his military continues its offensives killing civilians, revolutionaries try to prevent the region from accepting the legitimacy of the milita...

With Nicholas Coppel, former Australian ambassador to Myanmar and president of the Australia Myanmar Institute. This week on episode 42 of What's Happening in Myanmar , the military captures two mines from resistance forces, the historic Gokteik viaduct sustains major damage, and we discuss the consequences of the military's planned elections starting on December 28. Email the show at whimyanmar@p...

With Stephen Campbell, associate professor in Social Sciences at Nanyang Technological University, and Joseph Young, Daily Briefing writer at Frontier Myanmar. This week on episode 41 of  What's Happening in Myanmar , massive airstrikes occur around the country as the military continues offensives, and we discuss union members being sent to Insein prison, and the UWSA's declaration of non-assistan...

With Hka San Lwi, editor-in-chief of Kachin Waves . This week on What's Happening in Myanmar , major ethnic armed organisations make statements on peace and war, the military presses its advantage right across the country, and we discuss why the struggle for Bhamo remains the most consequential battle for the revolution going forward. Email the show at whimyanmar@proton.me Timecodes— 01m18s :: New...

With Emily Fishbein, freelance journalist currently serving as a Pulitzer Center Rainforest Investigations Network fellow, and Hpan Ja Brang, social justice activist and freelance journalist from Kachinland. This week on What's Happening in Myanmar, the TNLA pushed firmly on the defensive, the Arakan Army permits Starlink registrations in war-torn Rakhine State, and we discuss the KIA's resumption...

With Pai Deetes, Southeast Asia Program Regional Campaigns Director at International Rivers. This week on  What's Happening in Myanmar, the military regime lifts the state of emergency and enacts new laws for elections, making coup leader Min Aung Hlaing the temporary acting president, and we discuss the transboundary water contamination from mines in Myanmar affecting northern Thailand. Email the...

With Dr Kid, communications officer of the Myanmar Defence and Security Institute. This week on What's Happening in Myanmar, the military takes back Thabeikkyin, while giving out rice and detaining suspects in Nawnghkio, and we discuss how soldiers who escape the army are working to expose the regime's weaknesses and defeat the military. Email the show at whimyanmar@proton.me Timecodes— 01m04s ::...

With Greg Constantine, documentary photographer. This week on What's Happening in Myanmar, the military marches into Nawnghkio, and we discuss the history and identity of the Rohingya community through the lens of the new Ek Khaale exhibition. Email the show at whimyanmar@proton.me Timecodes— 00m57s :: Nawnghkio taken by military 03m06s :: With Greg Constantine, the Ek Khaale exhibition 19m51s ::...

With outgoing Frontier Myanmar editor-in-chief Ben Dunant and incoming editor-in-chief Thu Thu Aung. This week on What's Happening in Myanmar, our two editors talk about Frontier and the Myanmar media landscape as Thu Thu takes the reigns from Ben, who is moving on after seven years at Frontier. Email the show at whimyanmar@proton.me Timecodes— 01m51s :: Introducing Thu Thu Aung 04m35s :: Ben bein...

With Shayna Bauchner, Asia researcher for Human Rights Watch, and Thiri, an independent researcher. This week on What's Happening in Myanmar, Belarus support for the Myanmar air force is exposed, another jet goes down, and we discuss the surge in the use of child soldiers by the State Administration Council. Email the show at whimyanmar@proton.me Timecodes— 01m28s :: Belarus helps Myanmar air forc...

With Ya Nwe, Frontier Myanmar journalist. This week on What's Happening in Myanmar, gains to workers' wages widen with momentum from May Day, and coup leader Senior General Min Aung Hlaing gives a peace performance in earthquake-devastated Nay Pyi Taw. Email the show at whimyanmar@proton.me Timecodes— 01m21s :: Peace Conference and Belarus 04m39s :: With Ya New, Tsang Yih strikes, wage gains, and...

With Thomas Kean, senior consultant for Myanmar and Bangladesh with International Crisis Group. This week on What's Happening in Myanmar, the Arakan Army tightens its noose and expands its buffer zone as soldiers defect in Kyaukphyu and Ngape, and we discuss Rohingya armed group organizing in the refugee camps of Cox's Bazaar, Bangladesh. Email the show at whimyanmar@proton.me Timecodes— 01m10s ::...

With Lway Noon, a Ta'ang activist and researcher, and Francesco Buscemi, post-doctoral fellow in geography at the University of Bologna. This week on What's Happening in Myanmar, a jet fighter shot down, fresh hopes for Myanmar workers, and we talk about the new administration in Ta'ang National Liberation Army territory. Email the show at whimyanmar@proton.me Timecodes— 01m10s :: New ILO resoluti...