Unfrozen Assets

Episode #213: Isaac Evans-Frantz outlines the mission of Action Corps, a U.S.-based organization dedicated to justice and solidarity in the face of global disasters. One of their initiatives is in support of ethnic and religious minorities facing persecution in Myanmar.Even though Isaac has never visited Myanmar, the work hits home in a personal way. “When I was a child, somebody came to my class and spoke about surviving the Holocaust. He had been in a Nazi death camp, he showed us the number on his arm, and he told us horrific stories. I promised myself after that, that if I were ever in a position where I knew about some genocide that was happening… I would do everything that I could to stop that!” So for him, it was only natural that the situation in Myanmar would find a place in his heart.Jade, a Kachin-American, has been working with Action Corps, and joins Evans-Frantz in the discussion. She emphasizes the importance of building a collective identity among diaspora communities, which has two parts. One regards the younger generation of the Burmese diaspora and their struggles with cultural identity as “third culture kids.” The other is the challenge of unity within the diaspora community, which is hindered by historical social, cultural and political divisions. The ability of the wider diaspora community to engage in advocacy is further complicated by the economic struggles many face in the U.S. and cultural norms of stoicism in the face of difficulties.“Feel encouraged that there are people out here who are trying to make a difference and that you can too!” Jade says in closing. “No one is ever alone. Our power really does come from coming together and being in solidarity.”

19 Tammi 202455min

Episode #212: Sean Turnell's remarkable journey in Myanmar, spanning over three decades, reflects a life deeply intertwined with the country's tumultuous history.He first describes his extensive research on Myanmar's economy, culminating in his first book, “Fiery Dragons,” which highlighted the importance of understanding history and culture in economics.Turnell's involvement deepened when he joined Aung San Suu Kyi's government as an economic advisor in 2016, a time fraught with challenges like the constant threat of a military coup and a looming banking crisis. His efforts to reform the banking sector faced resistance—along with personal threats— due to the involvement of criminal enterprises.Following the military takeover on February 1st, 2021, Turnell was tried on trumped up espionage charges and imprisoned for 650 days. His ordeal was marked by Kafkaesque court proceedings, horrible prison conditions and multiple battles with COVID-19. Turnell did find some solace in books, and especially solidarity with fellow political prisoners. He was even able to get some guarded moments with Aung San Suu Kyi, who impressed him with her strength and resilience even in such terrible circumstances.Turnell remains an outspoken opponent of the junta's crimes, despite facing extradition threats. The experience has transformed him, making him more inclined towards activism and advocacy.Amid all those challenges, Turnell developed a deep faith in the courage and compassion of the Burmese people, believing that they will ultimately prevail in their quest for a brighter future. “From what I've seen, Myanmar is the collection of the best, the brightest, most courageous people I've ever met in my life and I remain confident that they'll win through in the end.”

16 Tammi 20242h 11min

Episode #211: Enze Han, an Associate Professor at the University of Hong Kong, conducted ground-breaking research that analyzes patterns of conflict in relation to geography. His study, "Rugged terrain, forest coverage, and insurgency in Myanmar," analyzed the tumultuous years from 2010 to 2018.His findings revealed a strategic dance within the country's terrain. Conflict tends to avoid the extremes of high- or low-density forests, following an inverted U-shaped pattern related to conflict and forest coverage. Too light, and the military’s superior weaponry and technology give them too much of an advantage; too heavy, and their superiority is neutralized, giving ethnic forces too much of an advantage. So conflict happens in between.Elevation is also a key consideration; both rebels and the military favored the mountains. Even though the military historically dominated the Bamar regions, they have more recently established bases at higher altitudes, which are mainly in the country’s ethnic regions and allow them to extend their reach there. This strategic move is couples with systematic deforestation, which not only generates illicit profits for military leaders and their cronies, but also helps flush out ethnic fighters.Han's study predates the coup, so it primarily examines military-ethnic skirmishes in mountainous and forested areas, but not the Bamar heartland. However, post-coup Myanmar has introduced conflict between Bamar-led PDF groups and the military, which still adheres to the same terrain-forest patterns.

12 Tammi 202447min

Episode #210: Andrea Gittleman's deep familiarity with Myanmar spans 15 years, and is rooted in her work with the Burma Lawyers' Council in Mae Sot. With meager resources, the council educated Burmese migrants on their labor rights in Thailand while documenting atrocities back in Myanmar. Witnessing the regime's grim human rights record firsthand, Gittleman embarked on a mission to garner international momentum for a commission of inquiry.Today, as the policy director for the Simon-Skjodt Center for the Prevention of Genocide, Gittleman is able to draw on her Myanmar expertise, as the center has been tracking violence against the Rohingya since 2013. The museum's current Rohingya exhibit aims to make the tragedy tangible, urging introspection on missed opportunities to prevent genocide and ongoing human rights abuses.The impactful influence of the exhibition resonated in Washington as U.S. Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, credited his 2022 visit to the museum for informing his solemn declaration that the military's brutal atrocities met the legal definition of genocide. Gittleman emphasizes that the determination, while certainly not a cause for celebration, serves as a crucial catalyst for political momentum and the potential protection of innocent lives at risk.“We want to make sure that we're doing what we can to share this information with the public and those who are able to spread it within their networks,” she says in closing. “We’re trying to keep momentum going and keep a focus on the plight of people at risk of atrocities across Burma, and doing what we can to make sure that that policy conversations can continue to take that with the utmost seriousness.”

9 Tammi 20241h 12min

Michael Haack sheds light on the intricate world of US sanctions and their impact on Myanmar Oil and Gas Enterprises (MOGE) and the wider Myanmar military regime. Haack, a familiar voice on the podcast, has spent two decades advocating for Myanmar, playing a pivotal role in the passage of the Burma Act.These latest sanctions, as Haack explains, cut off US financial services to MOGE, affecting loans and transfers, which may seem minor but actually have a profound impact. MOGE, being a vital source of foreign exchange for the military, deals primarily in US dollars, making these sanctions more significant than they initially appear. He believes one positive effect is that they will make it harder for the regime to acquire dollars for weapons.However, he says they are ultimately, not a game changer, contrasting them with the EU's more potent sanctions, which compelled even China to divert funds intended for MOGE into escrow. He emphasizes that US sanctions were drafted with Thailand's interests in mind, allowing Myanmar to continue selling gas to its eastern neighbor. Haack hints at the US prioritizing its relations with Thailand over opposing Myanmar's regime, and also notes the influence of corporate lobbying.Haack also points out that the history of US sanctions includes targeting the garment industry, which disproportionately affected vulnerable workers, and how such sanctions often serve as moral victories rather than practical solutions.Haack closes by criticizing what he calls the “semiotic loop,” in which good news from Myanmar is amplified without meaningful change. He highlights the challenge of navigating Myanmar's “low information environment” and the influence of diverse groups, from religious organizations to corporations, in shaping US decisions. Haack's insights reveal the complexities of international sanctions and their implications for Myanmar's ongoing struggle for democracy.

5 Tammi 202443min

Episode #209: Susan Zaw’s father and grandfather were both military men, and she had never really been a real fan of the National League for Democracy (NLD). But on February 28, shortly after the coup, everything changed. Her neighbor, a taxi driver, accidentally was hit in the neck by a soldier’s stray bullet. He was immediately rushed to the hospital for an emergency operation, but while in recovery, soldiers came and whisked him away. It is common practice for the military to apprehend those who have been injured by soldiers, and then fraudulently charge them with assault. So victims suffer doubly, injured by the military, then arrested for it.Then on March 27, Armed Forces Day, Susan found herself in a large but peaceful protest. The military responded with force, however, killing 30 people. Some of Susan’s friends were arrested, and she, herself, barely escaped to safety. The military claimed that the soldiers had acted in self-defense against a violent mob. It was a blatant lie, and Susan was disgusted.The trauma of those experiences left a deep mark on Susan, and led her to throw her full support behind the democracy movement. She soon became active in raising funds for CDM and PDF groups. Her family initially had reservations, but Susan was determined, and her family relented.Eventually, she was invited to join a group attempting to reach out to soldiers in the hope of finding common ground and reminding them of their empathy. This led to an invitation for her to teach English to defectors, and reach out to their wives as well. Those connections have been so successful that Susan’s group has been tasked with working with the defectors’ wives to make contact with the spouses of those who are still deployed, and convincing them to be on the right side of history.

2 Tammi 20241h 14min

Episode #208: Better Burma’s third panel tackles the issue of the lack of limited international governmental and infrequent media attention on the horrific, on-going situation in Myanmar and the Burmese people’s valiant resistance against a brutal, Russia-backed military. Considering the widespread atrocities and human rights abuses, this lack of attention is actually rather startling. This disconnect was nowhere more apparent than in the Crisis Group’s recent essay, “10 Conflicts to Watch in 2023.” Myanmar didn’t even make the list!The topic of this panel, then, was Why Has Myanmar's Struggle for Democracy Been Ignored? Five distinguished guests addressed these questions: Why has the democratic movement in Myanmar been left to fend for itself? Why has this issue not risen to a global consciousness and concern, and not engaged any real sector to take on as an issue? Why have news media outlets, international organizations, neighboring countries, Western governments, and large aid organizations consistently declined to provide the support and attention necessary to an unfolding humanitarian disaster?

26 Joulu 20232h 4min

Episode #207: Seeking a way to satisfy a growing internal discontent, Nobuko Nakano turned to psychedelics and other drugs, and hard partying in her youth. It was hard for her to stop, even after taking her first vipassana meditation course in the tradition of S.N. Goenka. Finally, though, she felt she had come to a fork in the road, and made the commitment to spend an extended period of time sitting and serving courses at Dhamma Aloka. Becoming more grounded in the practice, she traveled on to India and stayed at the Dhamma Giri, where she also took an extended Pāḷi course.Around that time, she and her partner enrolled in a 45-day vipassana course in Dhamma Sindhu in Gujarat. They had plans of returning to Australia and becoming more committed in their relationship, but on this course, something fundamental shifted in Nobuko; she realized that a relationship commitment in lay life was no longer for her.She ended up in Burma, where she decided to ordain as a nun. The ceremony was surprisingly emotional for her, and even nine months into wearing robes, the pain of having let go of her relationship with her boyfriend was still so acute that one day she decided to disrobe and go back to him, until a senior nun talked her out of it.She dedicated her time in robes to pariyatti study and intensive meditation practice, until several issues started bubbling over from under the surface. First was the disparity in how male and female monastics were treated in Burma. Yet even more egregious was the growing, anti-Muslim propaganda that was starting up (and eventually led to the Rohyinga crisis). She couldn’t reconcile how a community that had been so supportive and generous towards her, and was so committed to following the Buddha’s teachings, could become so hateful and paranoid. Nobuko realized that it was time for her to move on from Myanmar.Nobuko had still not disrobed when she finally returned to Melbourne, and her mother confided to her that she wanted her to return to lay life. She said, “I hadn't lived in the world for nine years, so I gave it some thought, and I decided, ‘How about I give it a shot being back in the world, and try to be a good, wholesome, dhammic person in the lay life, a contributing member in society?’”

19 Joulu 20232h 20min