Myanmar Studies Programme News Today

Wai Moe is a former Myanmar political prisoner-turned-journalist. He was a Visiting Fellow with the Myanmar Studies Programme at ISEAS–Yusof Ishak Institute.

Indonesia's approach in its role as the current Asean chair to address the political crisis in Myanmar has garnered appreciation from key stakeholders in the junta ruled country.

Human rights groups say Myanmar military’s move to drop five of ousted leader’s convictions is meaningless

The move could embolden pro-junta groups, and further bloodshed could hamper much-needed relief efforts after Cyclone Mocha battered western Myanmar on May 14.

ASEAN ministers meet a week after the military hanged four activists, but look unlikely to take a tougher line.

The special envoy of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations chair on Myanmar is looking forward to more exchanges and a joint consultative gathering later, after his first visit to Myanmar was generally considered positive.

Less than a decade after it came in from the cold, Myanmar is once more facing the freeze. Since the mili-tary forcefully seized power on Feb. 1 over unhappiness with the country’s elections, huge crowds of anti-coup protesters have taken to the streets daily. The crackdown seems to be intensifying, with police opening fire on protesters and threatening further violence.   As a result, the governments of countries like the U.S., UK, Canada and New Zealand have already announced sanctions aga...

Myanmar: tens of thousands protest against coup despite internet blackout Rebecca Ratcliffe and a Guardian reporter in Yangon Tens of thousands of people have taken to the streets in Myanmar in the first major demonstrations since the military seized power, despite a nationwide internet blackout imposed to stifle dissent. In the main city Yangon on Saturday, protesters chanted “down with the military dictatorship” and carried images of the ousted leaders Aung San Suu Kyi and...

The military’s actions, which came a decade after it agreed to share power with civilian leaders, were condemned by governments around the world. The US president, Joe Biden, called on the international community to press Myanmar’s military to give up power, release detainees and refrain from violence against civilians. He threatened sanctions, adding that the US will defend democracy around the world. “In a democracy, force should never seek to overrule the will of the people or attempt ...