From The Ground Up
Insight Myanmar21 Aug 2024

From The Ground Up

Episode #261: Saw Kapi delves into his journey and contributions to Myanmar's democratic and educational landscape. His story began with involvement in the 1988 student uprising against military rule, which led him to the Thai-Burma border to join the resistance. The struggle for democracy became a central theme in his life, intertwining with his identity as a student and later as an educator.

Saw Kapi emphasizes the critical role of education in revolution, stressing that a well-educated population is essential for sustainable change. He highlights his efforts in preparing young Burmese for international scholarships and higher education, aiming to create a new generation of leaders. Despite the challenges posed by a repressive military regime, his focus remained on fostering critical thinking and bridging gaps between local and international opportunities.

His narrative underscores the importance of grassroots governance, advocating for decentralized, community-driven governance structures as a foundation for a federal democratic union. By empowering local leaders and focusing on public administration, Saw Kapi envisions a future where Myanmar can build a democratic system from the ground up, ensuring that governance serves the people and not just the central authority.


“Our standard of treating the population that we govern has to be right!” exclaims Saw Kapi. “We cannot just treat them differently because we have guns and control the area. If we think that political authorities come from the barrel of the gun, then we are heading towards dictatorship. But if we believe that our authority to govern comes from the consent of the governed, we are heading in the right direction.”

Avsnitt(543)

When The Window Closed

When The Window Closed

Episode #528: Ola Elvestuen has devoted his political career—and much of his life beyond politics—to tackling the most urgent environmental and societal challenges facing the global community. A membe...

30 Apr 1h 23min

Forced to Vote

Forced to Vote

Episode #527: Nay Chi, a senior researcher with the Myanography project, describes Myanmar’s post-coup election as an exercise in coercion rather than public choice. Drawing on reports from community ...

28 Apr 1h 21min

A Rose by Any Other Name

A Rose by Any Other Name

Episode #526: “I actually was anti-Muslim when I was in high school!” recalls Thet Swe Win, describing how he was influenced by nationalist propaganda in his youth. But his involvement in the 2007 Saf...

27 Apr 2h 20min

Knocking on Malaysia’s Door

Knocking on Malaysia’s Door

Episode #525: Heidy Quah, founder of Refuge for the Refugees in Kuala Lumpur, describes her work supporting migrants and refugees in Malaysia, particularly those fleeing Myanmar. She began volunteerin...

24 Apr 1h 57min

The Path in Question

The Path in Question

Episode #524: Max Ante’s story begins not with a gradual curiosity, but with a sudden rupture. At twenty, after a series of chance encounters, he found himself on a ten-day Vipassana retreat in the Go...

23 Apr 2h 40min

A Life In Motion

A Life In Motion

Episode #523: The fourth episode in our five-part series brings you conversations recorded at the 16th International Burma Studies Conference at Northern Illinois University, where scholars, students,...

21 Apr 1h 30min

The Transparency Paradox

The Transparency Paradox

Episode #522: “We became interested in understanding how distrust toward official institutions influences the way humanitarian aid actually moves on the ground, and how donors decide where to place th...

20 Apr 1h 24min

Victims of Success

Victims of Success

Episode #521: “The weapon itself just cannot tell the difference between a soldier stepping on it, or a kid on the way to school, or your grandma on her way to the place of worship.” For Erin Hunt, E...

17 Apr 1h 18min

Populärt inom Politik & nyheter

aftonbladet-krim
rss-krimstad
svenska-fall
p3-krim
spar
aftonbladet-daily
flashback-forever
politiken
rss-sanning-konsekvens
rss-krimreportrarna
motiv
rss-vad-fan-hande
blenda-2
rss-flodet
rss-frandfors-horna
rss-expressen-dok
grans
rss-aftonbladet-krim
svd-ledarredaktionen
ett-rent-noje