The Start of a Path

Episode #250: Rosalia (“Lia”) Sciortino, founder of SEA Junction in Bangkok, shares her poignant narrative of dedication to the country of Myanmar. Her journey began with an interest in cultural anthropology and development sociology, which led her to Southeast Asia. Lia's subsequent work with the Ford Foundation, Rockefeller Foundation, and IDRC provided her with a deeper understanding of the region’s socio-political complexities.Lia’s connection with Myanmar deepened through her focus on transnational issues such as migration, trafficking, and cross-border health. Her commitment to social justice and democracy is reflected in her support for various advocacy programs even through Myanmar’s most repressive periods. She underscores the resilience of Myanmar’s civil society, particularly the role of women and LGBTQI activists, who have been on the front lines of the struggle against the military junta.Through SEA Junction, Lia creates a public space to foster awareness and empathy for Southeast Asian issues. Exhibitions, discussions, and art installations serve as powerful tools to engage the public and highlight the ongoing struggle for democracy in Myanmar.Lia hopes that more people will tune in and become involved. “There is a shortage of international community attention, and unfortunately, they have abdicated the management of this to ASEAN,” she says, adding that because they have not met their responsibility, that the international community should have “remained active and implemented all kinds of sanctions and embargoes and stopped the sale of arms. There is a lot of work to be done internationally! But at the same time, we can see that the people of Myanmar really engage, and this is why I think is a fantastic example for the rest of the region.”

12 Juli 20241h 16min

Episode #249: Nathan Ruser, a geospatial analyst focusing on human rights, sheds light on a deeply troubling situation unfolding in Myanmar's Rakhine State. Ruser has meticulously detailed the actions of the Arakan Army (AA), revealing a pattern of arson attacks targeting Rohingya villages. These attacks, which spanned from late April to May 2024, have displaced tens of thousands and razed numerous communities to the ground.Ruser's insights highlight the complex interplay of military strategy and ethnic tensions. He explained that while the Myanmar junta has historically used divide-and-conquer tactics to destabilize regions, the AA’s recent actions appear to be both retaliatory and strategically targeted. Despite their public denial, satellite imagery and eyewitness accounts suggest a coordinated effort to burn Rohingya settlements following the capture of military positions.“To say to the Arakan Army that if you want to be part of a future democratic federalized Burma, this is unacceptable! And to hope that despite the nationalistic take that the Arakan Army’s had, and their clearly nationalistic bent, [I would] like to think that they would rather play a role in a future federalized Burma then act as a pariah state sandwiched between India and Burma. And in their statements, that they have shown as much willingness to align themselves with the national resistance, [which] does show that they would prefer a role in a future without the military. What they said and what they do is a different matter, and they've quite explicitly said that they are only looking for autonomy within a federalized Myanmar. They're not looking for independence.”

9 Juli 20242h 5min

Episode #248: Working in ASEAN for 27 years, Adelina Kamal played a pivotal role in establishing and ultimately being appointed executive director of its AHA Centre for Coordinated Disaster Response, and she also co-drafted the ASEAN agreement on disaster management and emergency response. Overall, she admires the organization. “Basically I grew up together with ASEAN and I have become the person I am right now partly because of ASEAN. ASEAN has shaped me as an individual.”Yet at the same time, Adelina has publicly called attention to ASEAN’s shortcomings regarding disaster relief in Myanmar. The ASEAN agreement on disaster management mandates that the affected country must consent to and direct the assistance, deciding who receives aid and how it is distributed. This framework assumes a willing and capable government, which respects national sovereignty and prevents foreign entities from acting unilaterally. However, in the case of the Myanmar crisis, this assumption has all but broken down, and Adelina is calling on ASEAN to address the problem in an effective way. The junta does not prioritize the welfare of its people—in fact, it continues to add to their misery—and therefore the very government of the country cannot be counted on as a good-faith partner, as has occurred in most all other AHA efforts. ASEAN has yet to squarely face, and deal with, this fact.“It is an existential crisis of ASEAN!” she exclaims. “It is not only a Myanmar crisis, but ASEAN is in crisis too. I hope that ASEAN will exist in decades to come because really, the relevance of ASEAN is being questioned here. With what's happening on the ground [in Myanmar], and with the nature of the Spring Revolution, which is really teaching us a lot of things; for this older generation, it is really the time for us and for ASEAN to do so; if we want to make ASEAN matter to the people.”

2 Juli 20242h 18min

Episode #247: Nicholas Koumjian, the head of the Independent Investigative Mechanism for Myanmar (IIMM), shares his insights into the ongoing atrocities in Myanmar. He emphasizes the critical need for collecting and preserving evidence amid the escalating crisis, where crimes have only intensified since the military coup in 2021. Indeed, IIMM’s mission is to meticulously gather and verify evidence, including eyewitness testimonies, social media, and satellite imagery. Although not a prosecutorial body itself, IIMM plays a vital role in any related cases.Koumjian highlights the multifaceted nature of the Myanmar conflict, drawing parallels to other international crises he has investigated. The IIMM has faced formidable challenges in collecting data-- not many on the IIMM staff speak Burmese, and the organization has no on-the-ground presence inside the country. So the IIMM leverages innovative technology to collect the vast amounts of data and organize it so that it can be used by courts around the world. He expresses gratitude for the bravery of those who have provided information and reaffirmed IIMM's commitment to justice for crimes committed, and deterrence of future crimes.“If you did not prosecute them, you get more of these crimes occurring,” Koumjian says. “It’s very important to establish that historical record. Very important that young people in that country learn more and understand better about what actually happened before they were born, but not that long ago, and that affected their parents, and grandparents, so that they understand them better, and so that it never happens again. And so that is what we hope to be contributing to in our work in Myanmar. We can break the cycle of impunity that has led to such crimes happen over and over again in Myanmar's history.”

28 Juni 20241h 5min

Episode #246: Thura, co-founder of Spring University Myanmar (SUM), offers a poignant narrative of resilience and innovation in the face of tyranny. Following the 2021 coup, Myanmar's youth found themselves grappling with a reality where traditional education systems crumbled under the weight of military oppression. Thura's response was visionary: establishing an alternative educational platform that not only defies the junta but also sustains the spirit of learning and resistance.Spring University Myanmar has emerged as a vibrant beacon of hope, providing micro-credentials and diploma programs across diverse disciplines. By harnessing the power of digital and analog technologies, including innovative tools like the SUM box and radio lectures, the university transcends the barriers imposed by conflict. Thura's approach is rooted in the belief that education extends beyond classroom walls, fostering critical thinking, cultural appreciation, and active citizenship among Myanmar's youth.Despite the ever-present threat of military retaliation, Thura's commitment to safeguarding the identities of students and faculty underscores the delicate balance between defiance and survival. This endeavor not only educates but also cultivates a generation of informed and empowered individuals poised to rebuild a free Myanmar. Through Spring University Myanmar, Thura illuminates the path towards a future where knowledge becomes the cornerstone of resistance and renewal.“I've joined some of these faculty lectures, and damn, they are just so wonderful and full of passion, both in their subject material and their approach to teaching,” he says. “So beyond that political affiliation, and the affinity that comes with it, what really keeps the students coming back to SUM is that kind of quality of teaching.”

25 Juni 20242h 27min

Episode #245: Barry Lapping shares his spiritual odyssey from the turbulence of the Vietnam War era and counterculture movement, to the serene hills of Bodhgaya, India, to becoming a vipassana meditation teacher in western Massachusetts.His story begins with a chance encounter with a captivating magazine photo of a meditator in the mountains of New Mexico, which ignited his quest to find true happiness. His subsequent journey led him to try kibbutz life in Israel, before traveling overland through Turkey, Iran and Afghanistan to India, where he found his spiritual home at the Burmese Vihara in Bodhgaya. There, under the guidance of his first teacher, Munindra, and later S.N. Goenka, Barry delved deep into the practice of vipassana meditation.Barry highlights the essence of Goenka's teachings, which focus on the purification of the mind through a non-judgmental observation of physical sensation that leads to an experiential understanding of impermanence, suffering, and non-self. Despite initial struggles, Barry found profound transformation through this practice, which provided him with the tools to navigate the complexities of life with equanimity and wisdom. He has devoted his life to helping spread these teachings, and is now the Center teacher at Dhamma Dhara, in western Massachusetts.Barry’s story is a testament to the enduring power of meditation to bring about profound personal change and contribute to a more compassionate and understanding world.

22 Juni 20242h 27min

Episode #244: Matthew Arnold details the aftermath of Operation 1027, and how this has dramatically shifted the landscape of conflict in Myanmar. The junta's inability to maintain control, compounded by losing key territories, showcases a dramatic shift in power dynamics. Arnold emphasizes that the ceasefire brokered by China, although seemingly significant, is more a tactical pause than a strategic peace, driven by the junta's need to save face amid substantial defeats.The broader conflict is marked by a series of insurgencies and the junta's heavy reliance on violence against civilians, illustrating its desperation. Arnold points out that the junta's attempts to stabilize their rule through ceasefires often fail, revealing a pattern of transactional and insincere agreements meant to temporarily halt fighting rather than foster long-term political solutions.Arnold’s insights highlight the junta's eroding military capacity, strained logistics, and diminishing strategic depth. This scenario underscores a critical juncture where local resistance, ethnic alliances, and international diplomatic pressures converge, potentially leading to the junta's collapse and a reconfiguration of Myanmar's political landscape.Matthew Arnold concludes with a powerful message to those continuing on in the resistance movement: “The Myanmar people should take heart. This has been your revolution, you have been the ones who have pushed it, you've succeeded more than any other country has when confronted with a deeply entrenched, genocidal military, and one that is willing to use mass violence against the population. All of this has been through the determination and dedication of the Myanmar people.”

18 Juni 20241h 54min

Episode #243: Kenneth Wong, a Burmese language teacher and translator, visited Thailand to connect with compatriots who have sought refuge there due to the conflict in Myanmar. While he enjoyed his stay in Mae Sot, a town with a significant Burmese presence, he soon realized that it was quite different for Burmese refugees: after a fraught journey across the Moei River to avoid capture, the community is plagued by fear, extortion by local authorities and a lack of prospects that keep many from even leaving their house, let along learning Thai. Despite these challenges, a strong Burmese community persists in Mae Sot, with hopes of returning home after political change. Kenneth reflects on the plight of previous generations of activists who remained in exile without assimilating, limiting their ability to aid current movements. He also notes instances of Thai kindness toward Burmese workers against the backdrop of a complicated, historical relationship.At the end of the day, Kenneth is anything if not optimistic. “I'm hopeful that some of the activists and refugees I met, even though they are in a desperate situation with an uncertain future, they also turning around and helping people who are less fortunate, and helping people who arrive fresh off the boat as it were,” he says in closing. “I have nothing but admiration for them, for the fact that even though they are struggling, they seek reward in selfless acts. I think these are the people that in the post-coup Federal Union, the kind of democratic kind Burma that we envision, these are the kinds of young people who will lead to nation-rebuilding efforts. These are the kind of people who I hope could become a bridge to foster goodwill between Thailand and Burma, because if they go back, maybe they retain some fond memories of the good experiences that they've had in Thailand.”

11 Juni 20241h 40min