The Revolution will not be Incarcerated
Insight Myanmar28 Feb 2023

The Revolution will not be Incarcerated

Episode #151: Tomas Martin is a prison researcher who presently works with DIGNITY, the Danish Institute Against Torture. His interest in prison research was first piqued when he heard about ten-day vipassana meditation courses in the tradition of S.N. Goenka being conducted in Tihar Jail outside of New Delhi. He is now focusing on how imprisonment in Myanmar, and its ramifications, and not only the prisoners, but the staff as well.

Besides the violence which often plagues incarceration, Martin pays close attention to the everyday experience of prison life. One of the more unique areas of his research has been a study of the usually foul prison air and its psychological and physical affects. He has pushed for new prison designs that encourage better ventilation, to improve the overall quality of life for prisoners.

On the subject of human rights within Burmese prisons, Martin points out the tragic truth that torture has long been used by the military regime to punish political dissidents. After they go through unfair trials, Martin explains how they then have limited contact with family, and their access to food and medicine is restricted. In addition, they are often either placed in extremely overcrowded conditions or kept in solitary confinement, two extremes that are equally detrimental to mental and physical health.

Martin has observed a paradoxical relationship between the revolution and the regime’s attempts at oppression. “Prison is where revolutionary actors and protests are being quelled. People are being locked up and even killed, to destroy the revolution. But the prison is also a place where there is opportunity to collect revolutionary actors and to produce revolutionary action and spirit!”

Episoder(507)

Coming To America

Coming To America

Episode #298: Maia Storm is an immigration attorney with over 25 years’ experience specializing in assisting refugees, particularly those from Myanmar. She began her career helping prisoners facing lo...

3 Jan 20252h 24min

A Taste of Resilience

A Taste of Resilience

Episode #297: The vibrant flavors of Burmese cuisine have traveled far beyond the borders of Myanmar, embedding themselves into global food culture. Earlier this year, we convened a panel discussion t...

31 Des 20241h 59min

Of Unity and Uprising

Of Unity and Uprising

Episode #296: Azad, an American fighter who is supporting the resistance against the military, returns to the podcast to discuss the current situation in Chin State, and the Chin people’s struggle for...

27 Des 20241h 28min

Shaken, Not SIlenced

Shaken, Not SIlenced

Episode #295: "I was born on the sixth of the 8th of the '88; the famous '88! My parents were part of the student movement, but growing up with my grandmother, I didn’t know much until I was older. Th...

24 Des 20241h 58min

Bonus Content: Interview with a Journalism Student

Bonus Content: Interview with a Journalism Student

Aye Mon, a journalism student at New York University, interviewed the founder of Insight Myanmar Podcast about the evolution and mission of the platform. Starting in 2019, the podcast initially focuse...

22 Des 202430min

Ripples of Dhamma

Ripples of Dhamma

Episode #294: This is the second installment of Grahame White’s discussion with Insight Myanmar. He picks up the thread being back in Australia, running group sittings that grew in popularity. Joseph ...

20 Des 20241h 26min

The Last Stand

The Last Stand

Episode #293: Journalist Thomas van Linge shares his insights into the dire situation in Karenni state, contrasting the devastation caused by the military junta versus the resilience of the Karenni pe...

17 Des 20241h 54min

A Sanctioned Resistance

A Sanctioned Resistance

Episode #292: Anrike Visser is Senior Policy Advisor at The Sentry, an investigative and policy organization. She focuses on economic statecraft, and joins us to discuss the challenges and complexitie...

13 Des 20241h 27min

Populært innen Politikk og nyheter

giver-og-gjengen-vg
aftenpodden
aftenpodden-usa
forklart
i-retten
stopp-verden
popradet
det-store-bildet
fotballpodden-2
dine-penger-pengeradet
rss-gukild-johaug
lydartikler-fra-aftenposten
rss-ness
hanna-de-heldige
aftenbla-bla
nokon-ma-ga
e24-podden
rss-dannet-uten-piano
frokostshowet-pa-p5
rss-penger-polser-og-politikk