Beyond the Headlines
Insight Myanmar16 Aug 2024

Beyond the Headlines

Episode #260: Helene Buchholz, a journalist from Germany, ventured into the heart of Myanmar's conflict, driven by a personal mission to shed light on an underreported crisis. A radio journalist for the German public broadcasting network, Helene stepped out of her comfort zone, undergoing extensive training to prepare for the dangers that lay ahead.

In Myanmar, Helene embedded herself with the People's Defense Force (PDF), a group of civilians turned resistance fighters. These were not seasoned soldiers, but new volunteers from diverse backgrounds, unified by a shared purpose: to protect their people from the brutal military junta. Helene’s interactions were limited by strict security protocols, ensuring her safety and that of the locals who supported her.

Despite these constraints, Helene was moved by profound nature of what she observed: the resilience and determination of the PDF, trained by ethnic minority groups and motivated by a desire for freedom. Her return to Germany marked the beginning of a new phase—using her platform to raise awareness and inspire a younger audience back home.

“I'm planning to return when the junta is defeated, to celebrate on the streets,” she says, reflecting on her time here. “I will stay invested, and I will stay interested… And so even if I'm not crossing the border again, very soon, I will keep in touch with the people and maybe meet them soon again, in exile at least.”

Episoder(507)

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Have Pity on the Working Man

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Episode #116: On July 7th, the official account of the European Union in Myanmar posted a two-minute video urging factories in conflict-torn Myanmar to re-open, charging that the factory shutdowns had...

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Spring is Coming

Spring is Coming

Episode #113: “I often asked myself how people can really have the presence of mind to sit down and write amidst such extraordinarily difficult circumstances, to be able to reflect on the kinds of tra...

22 Jul 20221h 5min

Journey into Chin State

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Episode #112: Simon traces the arc of his Chin homeland’s history and politics from the mists of history to the present-day conflict.Chin State is the poorest part of Myanmar, which suffers from an la...

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Visual Rebellion

Visual Rebellion

Episode #111: Emerging from under decades of harsh censorship, local journalism and investigative reporting made great strides in Myanmar during the democratic transition in the 2010s. But all that wa...

7 Jul 20221h 57min

Journey Into Renunciation

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Episode #110: Ariya Baumann’s spiritual journey began far away from the tropical surroundings of the Golden Land. She grew in a small town in Switzerland, among the snowy Alps. Raised in a Christian h...

30 Jun 20222h 2min

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