Afleveringen
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Episode #351: Aurora Changâs diverse background and upbringing deeply influence her perspective and activism. Born in Taiwan, she spent formative years in South Africa, the United States, Singapore, and the United Kingdom, an international upbringing that provided her with a multifaceted worldview. This exposure also played a role in informing how she views her Taiwanese identity, particularly as she grappled with questions about her countryâs sovereignty in light of its complex relationship with China. Her academic focus on history, politics, and economics, coupled with her involvement in movements like the anti-extradition protests in Hong Kong and advocacy for Uyghur and Tibetan rights, shaped her eventual commitment to global justice and solidarity.
Auroraâs reflections on Myanmar highlight the darkest aspects of authoritarianism alongside the unyielding resilience of grassroots resistance, emphasizing the scale of oppression in Myanmar following the 2021 military coup. For Aurora, Myanmarâs resistance movement stands as a symbol of both tragedy and inspiration. She notes the organizational strength exhibited by those opposing the military junta, despite operating under extreme duress. The images and accounts of suffering serve as visceral reminders of the stakes involved in such conflicts. At the same time, Aurora reflects on how Myanmarâs movement provides critical insights for activists worldwide, particularly regarding tactical readiness and building resilient communities. "Thereâs a lot that we can learn from Myanmarâs resistance," she says simply.
This global view ties closely to Auroraâs concerns regarding Taiwanâs political landscape. She warns against complacency, drawing parallels between the fragile sovereignty of Taiwan and the relentless encroachment seen elsewhere across Southeast Asia on the part of China. Aurora highlights the value of civil defense and preparedness as lessons she believes Taiwan could take from Burmaâs resistance to safeguard its democratic values and sovereignty.
âItâs literally, you change one mind at a time, and you thank God for it!â she exclaims, on the long process of activism.. âItâs just like that, and that has to be enough for the time being. Itâs a really slow process, but listening is so important, and getting those stories out, amplifying the voices of people who are in these intersections, is really important.â
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Episode #350: Dr. Kevin Casas-Zamora, Secretary-General of International IDEA since 2019, speaks on the enduring struggle for democracy in Myanmar, a fight he frames as universally relevant. âAt a fundamental level, any countryâs struggle for democracy is every countryâs struggle for democracy,â he says. He contrasts the brutal 2021 military coup with the more gradual democratic erosion seen globally, highlighting Myanmarâs stark regression.
International IDEA, established in 1995, works to strengthen democratic governance worldwide. Casas-Zamora, a lawyer and political scientist with extensive inter-governmental experience, brings expertise to this mission as a lawyer by training, with his research informed by his analysis of Myanmarâs complex political environment.
The organizationâs engagement in Myanmar shifted from supporting nascent democratic reforms to aiding the pro-democracy movement post-coup. This included providing technical assistance, facilitating dialogues, and advocating for sustained international attention.
Casas-Zamora criticizes the international communityâs response, citing increased impunity for authoritarian regimes and insufficient support for democratic actors. He urges recognition of legitimate democratic bodies, condemnation of undemocratic elections, and sustained focus on the crisis, warning against legitimizing the juntaâs âphony electionâ bids. He highlights the global trend of democratic decline, documented in IDEAâs reports, and expresses concern over the lack of decisive international action.
âKeep an eye on this. Donât forget about the tragedy of Myanmar,â he urges.
The struggle for democracy is rarely a linear progression and often involves navigating periods of significant adversity. Considering this, and despite the formidable challenges and the often-disheartening realities on the ground, Casas-Zamora is encouraged by the resilience of the Myanmar people, particularly its youth. âThe youth are simply not willing to roll over and accept the military takeover.â Their commitment to democratic values, even in the face of repression, is a source of inspiration for him and, he believes, sets an example for an increasingly undemocratic world.
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Zijn er afleveringen die ontbreken?
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Episode #349: Oliver Tanner's journey begins in London, where as a teenager, he became restless and dissatisfied with the status quo. At 19, he traveled through Asia, which first exposed him to the idea of meditation. He first practiced yoga, but a chance encounter led to a Vipassana meditation course in the tradition of S. N. Goenka, which profoundly shifted his perspective. His commitment deepened through sitting and serving at Vipassana centers, notably in the UK, where he immersed himself in long courses and involvement in the meditation community.
A turning point came when he decided to explore the Buddha's teachings directly. He traveled to Myanmar, and became inspired by the countryâs living Buddhist culture, the peopleâs generosity, and their integration of Dharma into daily life. So he enrolled at the International Theravada Buddhist Missionary University in Yangon, and dedicated himself to studying Pali, Abhidhamma, and the suttas to gain a more comprehensive understanding of the Buddha's words, and integrate them into his life.
His time in Myanmar highlighted the importance of independent practice and the continuous cultivation of wholesome qualities beyond formal sitting meditation. This holistic approach, supported by his studies, expanded his understanding of the Dharma, emphasizing integration into every moment of life.
Oliver has since moved to Sri Lanka with his family, pursuing advanced studies in Buddhist philosophy, culminating in a PhD that delved deeply the intricate teachings of the Pattana. His journey, shaped by tradition, practice, and inquiry, reflects a profound evolution from youthful curiosity to a deeply integrated spiritual life.
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Episode #348: The Spring Revolution in Myanmar represents a continuation of long-standing struggles for a legitimate political order, according to Charlie Thame, Assistant Professor of International Relations at Thammasat University.
Thame describes this uprising as a "redemptive revolution," striving to fulfill the promises of past movements like the 1988 Uprising and the Saffron Revolution. The current revolution aims for popular sovereignty and inclusion, seeking rights for marginalized ethnic groups within a federal democratic state.
Thame emphasizes that the grassroots nature of this uprising distinguishes it from past "passive" revolutions that failed to reflect the people's will. The current movement seeks not merely power-sharing but the full dismantling of military dominance. He critiques the international community for legitimizing Myanmar's military despite popular opposition, and he advocates for a redefinition of âsovereignty,â one that is rooted in the people's will, much like struggles seen during the era of decolonization.
Addressing the issue of revolutionary violence, Thame argues that while non-violence is preferable, it has proven ineffective as a singular strategy against Myanmar's military, which uses brutal force indiscriminately. Thame is critical of the hypocrisy of outside actors who decry revolutionary violence while supporting oppressive regimes, and he calls out the Western community's âboth sidesâ rhetoric that ignores power asymmetries.
"The revolution doesn't end with the military being defeated," Thame says, addressing the broader aspirations that he hopes can be achieved. "The revolution would only end with the sort of realization of the aspirations that drove it originally: those aspirations, not just for a new constitution, but for fundamentally more equal society and overcoming those social, ethnic, religious, generational class cleavages. And I just hope, with all my power, that that is something that can be followed through on because once the military starts collapsing, as I believe it will."
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Episode #347: In the first part of this three-part series, three distinct yet intersecting voices reveal the human, political, and structural toll of the Myanmar crisisâand the inadequacy of ASEANâs current response.
Charles Santiago, a veteran Malaysian politician and currently the chair of the Asean Parliamentarians for Human Rights, delivers a scathing critique of ASEANâs âprocess-drivenâ stagnation in contrast to Indonesiaâs proactive diplomacy. He argues that poverty and inequalityârooted in global economic systemsâhave eroded democratic values and enabled authoritarianism across the region. But Santiago sees a window of opportunity in Myanmarâs growing political unity, bottom-up federalist movements, and inclusive leadership, especially among women. He calls for ASEAN to formally recognize the National Unity Government (NUG), insist on a ceasefire and the release of political prisoners, and be prepared to downgrade Myanmarâs standing if these conditions arenât met. His warnings are stark: the collapse of state functions has regional implications, from scam centers and arms proliferation to epidemic threats, and ASEANâs failure to respond decisively risks its own irrelevance.
Tisana Choonhavan, a Thai MP and APHR member, brings the crisis to the border. Working with refugee education programs and advocating for exploited migrants in Mae Sot, she outlines the systemic abuse faced by political exiles who cannot legally register or work in Thailand. Choonhavan pushes for police reform, work permits through the pink card system, and refugee recognitionâmoves that would enhance both humanitarian outcomes and Thai national interests amid its aging population. She notes the tragic contradiction of Thailand denying a war exists while harboring tens of thousands fleeing that exact reality.
Aung Paw Moe, a young exile activist and former political prisoner, adds a quiet but powerful moral voice. Reflecting on his imprisonment and lost academic aspirations, he asserts that activism was never a choiceâit was a duty. He calls on his peers to endure this historical moment with clarity and resolve, seeing it not as an aberration, but as a necessary transformation.
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Episode #346: Mark Farmaner, Director of Burma Campaign UK, reflects on Myanmarâs multiple crises and shares his multi-decade relationship with the country. Initially engaged through public demonstrations, Farmanerâs work evolved into policy-oriented advocacy aimed at cutting off the militaryâs power through sanctions, revenue disruption, and denial of legitimacy. He criticizes international strategies rooted in the false hope of military reform, arguing that any compromise with the military only delays future unrest.
Two early focal points of advocacyâAung San Suu Kyi and British business ties to the juntaâhave lost their power. Suu Kyiâs reputation declined following the Rohingya crisis, and Farmaner argues that her Bamar-Buddhist-majority outlook has alienated ethnic minorities. And international advocacy has fragmented as humanitarian emergencies divert civil society resources.
Despite setbacks, Farmaner detects unprecedented hope among resistance actors envisioning a future without the military. He argues Myanmarâs future lies in decentralized governance, where ethnic forces maintain regional control. He questions whether the NUG can form a central authority, especially given their lack of territorial control and strained relationships with some ethnic groups.
Farmaner calls for cutting arms and revenue to the military, demanding justice, and expanding humanitarian aid. He warns that reduced aid empowers the junta, which exploits crises like the recent earthquake to regain international legitimacy. Still, in spite of the overall lack of foreign assistance, local, grassroots, Burmese responses have been inspiring, and he urges allies to pressure elected officials directly in support.
Farmaner concludes optimistically: âI think itâs inevitable that the people of Burma will win their freedom.â
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The host of Insight Myanmar was invited to speak on the Light Forest Podcast.
Here is a description of this platform:
"The Light Forest podcast is a journey of exploration to bring more Light into how we live and regenerate our planet away from 'Dark Forest' systems of extraction and fear. Join me for conversations with change makers from around the world, as we explore philosophies, technology, spirituality, and history that can help us get to the root of our global problems. Together we learn how to play our part in the regeneration of our planet, starting with our own minds, to create a Light Forest world."
The following description is added for this interview:
"We get into some of the deep contradictions that run through Buddhism in Burma & policy making: How a country that sought to center around Vipassana and meditation became one of the most violent places? We learn the ways Buddhist practices such as VipassanÄ and mettÄ, and other principles are helping leaders in resistance groups, forming a ânon-violentâ movement as a path to peace and reconciliation."
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Episode #345: Does any and all engagement with the junta equate to some form of complicity? Moe Thuzar of ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute challenges this notion by offering a nuanced perspective on ASEANâs role in the Myanmar crisis following the 2021 coup. She argues that ASEANâs diplomacy aims to exert influence and advocate for the Myanmar peopleâs aspirations.
ââMoe Thuzar begins by explaining ââthat there are âmultiple Myanmarsâ beyond Naypyidawâ: âin the peri-urban and central areas, the delta, the periphery. And now the resistances.â Providing further nuance, she notes how for many, âethnic armed organizations represent the aspirations of different communities and people in Myanmar broadly for change." Taking all this into consideration, she emphasizes the need for an ââinside-outâ approach that prioritizes the needs of âthese âdiverse communities, while challenging the atrocities committed by the âSACâ; a principle, she argues, that is increasingly reflected in ASEANâs Myanmar strategy.â â
Addressing ASEANâs ânon-interferenceâ principle, Moe Thuzar contends that âwith Myanmar as an ASEAN Member since 1997, I would even go so far as to say that Myanmar has been the most interfered with under the ASEAN framework.â She suggests reframing this term as ânon-indifference,â which better reflects ASEANâs concern for regional stability. She then goes into detail on ASEANâs evolving engagement through the different chairs since the coup (Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, and looking to Malaysia in 2025), âand ââalso âdescribâesââ the varying approaches and the challenges in implementing the Five-Point ââConsensus. While initial engagement with the junta faced criticism for potential legitimization, Jakartaâs chairmanship shifted towards broader stakeholder engagement. Yet Moe Thuzar understands the complexity of geopolitical concerns, and speaks of the need for a long-term, multi-year ASEAN strategy for continuity and effective coordination to ensure the end of violence.
The question lingers: can this regional endeavor untangle the Myanmar crisis? Drawing on ASEANâs past diplomatic strategies, Moe Thuzar remains cautiously optimistic; yet only time will tell.
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Episode #344: Dominic Faulderâs decades of reporting on Myanmar began serendipitously in 1981, when a Thai coup disrupted his travel plans and led to an impromptu journey to Burma for Thingyan. He was immediately struck by the atmosphereâenticing yet oppressiveâand quickly became fascinated by the country's complexity, secrecy, and resilience. In the 1980s, he uncovered the unreported Mandalay fire, which destroyed a sixth of the city, and found that a similar catastrophe in the town of Taungdwingyi had also gone unnoticed. These early stories revealed the regimeâs ability to conceal massive tragedies from the outside world.
Faulder reported extensively on the events leading up to the 1988 uprising. He witnessed the bravery of students, the absence of police in early demonstrations, and the eerie silence before the storm. His proximity to key figuresâAung San Suu Kyi, U Nu, Min Ko Naingâgave him unique access as history unfolded in real time.
Faulder eventually conducted a rare interview with General Saw Maung, a junta leader, an extraordinary feat given the regimeâs paranoia. Despite Suu Kyiâs frustration that generals would speak to media but not political leaders, Faulder defended the role of journalists in documenting the moment. His reporting emphasized not just the courage of the protesters but the regimeâs brutality, the fractures within the opposition, and the impossible balance journalists had to strike between access and truth-telling.
Like many other past guests who have described their multi-decade relationship with the country, Dominic reflects on the pull that Burma exerts on those who come to be involved with its story. âForeigners get involved with Southeast Asia and stay much longer than they ever anticipated. But Burma, it is the one story that you always go back to, [asking] what-ifs and why do you think that is?â
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Episode #343: âI literally thought the world was crumbling!â
Chloe, a young woman born and raised in Myanmarâs Inle Lake region, speaks viscerally about the countryâs recent, devastating earthquake. The lake, known for its picturesque floating gardens and villages built on stilts, is one of Myanmarâs most iconic cultural landmarks. But the area is now in ruins. And while the structural damage was severe enough, the people were traumatized.
With minimal outside relief, and an ineffective and corrupt government unwilling and unable to help, Chloe felt she had to do something. So she and some friends launched a grassroots fundraising campaign. They started by giving out small cash donations but quickly realized the biggest need was reliable shelter. In previous disasters, monasteries had served as temporary sanctuaries, but these now lay in ruins, too. Emergency shelters were quickly put up, but they are flimsy and sometimes shared by more than one family. So she and her friends pivoted to the goal of helping families rebuild their homes.
Local initiatives like Chloeâs are driving the recovery, and in her view, it is this decentralized, community-led model that while necessary, is also inspiring. She talks about how a village will help one family with the biggest housing needs in rebuilding, then move onto the next, etc., until the whole village is taken care of. This kind of collective action has lifted spirits.
Yet the material needs and psychological effects of the earthquake remain acute, and in spite of the Burmese peopleâs famous self-reliance, they were already exhausted after the COVID pandemic, years of political repression and civil strife, last yearâs catastrophic floods. So Chloe ends with a call to action for the global community, urging listeners not only to donate but to amplify the voices of those on the ground. âThe more people know whatâs happening in Inle, the more likely it is that more support and assistance will come, I believe, from inside the country and beyond.â
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Episode #342: Dhammaloka, born Laurence Carroll in Dublin around 1856, was a unique figure in the history of Buddhism and anti-colonial resistance. Much of what we know today about Dhammaloka comes from Laurence Cox, Alicia Turner, and Brian Bocking in âThe Irish Buddhist.â
Carroll left Ireland as a teenager, becoming a sailor and tramp, living on the margins of society. These experiences shaped his adaptability and led to his connection with Buddhism when he arrived in Burma. Unlike other Europeans, Laurence was not part of the eliteâhe was a working-class man who resonated deeply with Buddhist principles. Rangoonâs diverse environment enabled Laurence to align with marginalized communities resisting colonial rule. Eventually, he ordained as a monk Tavoy Monastery in Rangoon under the name U Dhammaloka. The monastery was aligned with the Thudhamma sect, known for its strict adherence to the Vinaya and social engagement. This gave Dhammaloka an opportunity for both a spiritual rebirth from his alcohol addiction, as well as a connection to the emerging, pan-Asian Buddhist movement. His commitment to the monastic life became a powerful personal and political act.
Dhammalokaâs activism brought him into direct conflict with British authorities. He was placed under surveillance, charged with sedition, and his trial in Rangoon showed his symbolic role in anti-colonial resistance. Despite attempts to suppress him, his legacy endured. Dhammaloka also fiercely opposed Western missionaries, viewing their work as part of colonial domination. He famously said, âThe British came with the Bible, the Gatling gun, and the whiskey bottle,â highlighting colonialism's cultural and territorial aims.
Carrollâs journeyâfrom tramp to influential monkâreminds us of courage, solidarity, and the enduring desire for justice.
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Episode #341: As the military has suffered setbacks in the field, its use of indiscriminate aerial bombing has only increased, taking a deadly toll on civilians and leaving a legacy of trauma for survivors.
In this episode, we take you inside a conversation with resistance artists and researchers who have been working with A New Burma, through their exhibitions in Thailand titled âWhen We See the Planes.â These events shed light on the tragic effects of air strikes â and peopleâs refusal to succumb to this campaign of terror. By using art, performance, sound, and storytelling, these exhibitions serve as a beacon to highlight violations of international law and establish a record for transitional justice, while remembering those who have lost their lives.
The events showcase the works of about twenty artists, including frontline Myanmar photographers, put together with the help of Thai curators. âWhen we do this kind of work, we want to it to be empathy-driven,â says Hnin, the founder of A New Burma. âWe want to talk about this topic, not to give knowledge, but to speak to your heart.â
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Episode #340: Having taught at Payap University in Chiang Mai from 2016â2022, Tony Waters mentored doctoral students grappling with Myanmarâs long history of war, repression, and foreign interference. His studentsâ pride in their cultures, alongside their questioning of the countryâs fragmentation, helped shape his own understanding of Myanmarâs deeper crises and multi-layered history.
One dissertation, exploring Ne Winâs Burmanization policy, particularly influenced his thinking. It traced the policyâs roots to the CIAâs Cold War counterinsurgency training, and its evolution into the Tatmadawâs brutal Four Cuts strategy. Waters further critiques how Americaâs anti-Communist strategies, enacted covertly by the CIA, indirectly empowered the expansion of the drug trade.
Waters argues that Myanmarâs ethnic militias are not reflective of any cultural deficiencies, as some outsiders have implied, but rather rational responses to the absence of a stable, inclusive state. He is also sharply critical of the Western aid sector, particularly USAID, for prioritizing donor interests over local needs, and perpetuating cycles of ineffective development. Skeptical of post-coup âpolitical dialogueâ initiatives, Waters asserts that the military junta is structurally incapable of genuine negotiation.
Ultimately, he frames Myanmarâs continued suffering as the product of Great Power rivalries, stating that as long as China and the U.S. treat the country as a Cold War playground, real change remains elusive. Waters concludes by stressing the nuance required to better understand and engage in Myanmar, âI'm not looking for good and evil, I'm [just] looking for the story and trying to understand the processes.â
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Episode #339: Aung, a full-time journalist and womenâs rights activist, sheds light on the many hardships Myanmarâs journalists now face both operating from within and without the country following the 2021 coup and the all-important issue of gender equality in the field.
Reflecting back on the transition period, Aung laments that despite the modest advancements made in womenâs rights and gender equality, the military coup has undone these gains. Now, confronted with unprecedented challenges, she and her colleagues are tirelessly working through various organizations and initiatives to expose the pervasive gender discrimination and violence that persist in newsrooms.
Their efforts also focus on creating networks that enable affected female journalists to connect, share experiences, and address these critical issues collectively. Pushing back against those voices that suggest these concerns should be addressed only after the junta is toppled, Aung insists this is partand parcel of the current revolutionâs objectives. Her story gives an inside look at the obstacles and absurdities that Burmese female journalists are made to confront unduly.
In closing, sheinsists that their fight for equality is not code for establishing a new matriarchy; instead, she imagines a world where men and women share the workspace evenly.âPersonally,â she attests, âI do not want us exercising some form of dominance over our male colleagues. When we think about our organizationâs structure, we think, âWe will need to include their perspectives as well.â
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Episode #338: â[The quake] revealed the tragic disconnect between the government's understandingâor perhaps, willingness to communicateâthe severity of the disaster and the actual level of risk facing the population.â
In a compelling analysis, Professor Dean Kyne critiques Myanmarâs disaster management, highlighting how decades of military rule have prioritized authoritarian control over public welfare. He illustrates this with the 2008 Cyclone Nargis, when the junta ignored early warnings and downplayed the storm to proceed with a constitutional referendum ... and over 138,000 people died.
Kyne argues that instead of learning from this tragedy, the regime has doubled down, now weaponizing disaster response. Following the recent earthquake, search and rescue was blocked, aid was withheld, and military authorities even prevented international teams from entering. Humanitarian responder Kiran Verma, for instance, was stopped at gunpoint. âThis wasnât logistical failure,â Kyne says, âit was humanitarian suppression under authoritarian rule.â He notes that corruption further undermines aid distribution: local junta-aligned leaders steal and resell aid. Worse, young male relief volunteers are reportedly being forcibly recruited, and legitimate aid workers face harassment from pro-junta paramilitaries.
Kyne proposes a three-part framework for international response: pragmatic, political, and moral. He urges aid agencies to bypass the junta, work through opposition-held zones, and commit to long-term recovery. Community resilience, he emphasizes, can start with education aloneâempowering locals through training and digital platforms.
He closes with a message of solidarity: âTo the people in Myanmar, you have to be very strong. And for the international community members, please continue with what you have been doing, and please support the affected individuals.â
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Episode #337: U Jagara's journey is characterized by a deep commitment to spiritual practice, resilience, and the pursuit of authenticity. Growing up in a small town in Quebec, his early life was marked by a desire to find meaning beyond the material world. Inspired by his brother, U Jagara took his first vipassana meditation course with S.N. Goenka, and eventually traveled to Europe, India, and Burma, where he ordained as a monk under Mahasi Sayadaw. He persevered in this endeavor despite the challenges posed by cultural differences and an unstable, political climate.
Visa issues forced U Jagara to leave Burma, prompting him to continue his monastic journey in Sri Lanka. There, U he lived a simple ascetic lifestyle, re-incorporating the Goenka meditation method into his practice as he also ventured to India for long retreats, and spending time in isolated, mountain hermitages. He emphasizes the importance of embodying spiritual principles in all aspects of daily life, not just during formal meditation sessions.
After 15 years, U Jagara took a break from monastic life, moving to France where he disrobed, lived a lay lifestyle, and fell in love. This phase offered insights into attachment, intimacy, and the balance between worldly and spiritual commitments. Eventually, Burma's reopening led him back; he re-ordained, focusing on cultivating advanced meditative states at Pa Auk Monastery.
A key theme throughout his journey is balancing structure and freedom in spiritual practice. U Jagara stresses the importance of critical inquiry and creativity, cautioning against rigid attachment to any one tradition. He acknowledges the human vulnerabilities of monks, advocating for a realistic understanding of spiritual life. His story encourages embracing both discipline and freedom, while maintaining an urgency to pursue true liberationâa journey that requires resilience, openness, and a willingness to question and adapt.
As U Jagara puts it, âSometimes we need a slap from reality that helps us to wake up to the fact that we are going to die, and that the sickness and all these things are just part of our existence. When we are aware of that, then we will keep that kind of eagerness just to keep our life in that direction. It's a sense of urgency, saáčvega, that dimension in Buddhism.â
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Episode #336: âWe just want war to end.â
With this blunt declaration, Malaysian MP Wong Chen encapsulates his call for ASEAN to play a constructive role in resolving Myanmarâs civil war. Speaking from Bangkok, Wong outlines Malaysiaâs two-pronged approach during its ASEAN chairmanship: first, cutting off weapons, revenue, and logistical support to both the junta and resistance forces to pressure them toward negotiation; and second, leveraging Malaysiaâs strong ties with China to push for a peaceful resolution before the chair rotates to the Philippines, who does not have as good a relationship with the regional giant.
While personally critical of the junta, Wong insists Malaysia must act as a neutral facilitator to be effective. He proposes appointing Thailandâs military, which has close ties with both the SAC and resistance groups, as ASEANâs long-term adviser on Myanmar. Wong also supports a temporary halt in arms and trade, particularly in jade and rare earths, as a way to weaken the juntaâs war economy and force it to the table. For Myanmarâs ethnic armed groups, he urges reframing dialogue around economic incentives and a federalist model. Regarding the NUGâs possible participation in such talks and beyond, Wong expresses sympathy for the organization, but critiques its lack of military presence, leadership clarity, and funding. He warns it could be sidelined in future negotiations unless it reorganizes.
Wong is sharply critical of ASEAN, blaming a lack of political will and calling for a dedicated ASEAN parliamentary body to lead on issues like Myanmar. Though he doubts quick results, he urges bold steps now and insists, âWe cannot give up.â
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Episode #335: âIt was super hard to cope with.â Thatâs how Mia Kruska, a German researcher and policy advisor with the Green Party in Berlin, describes learning about the devastating earthquake that recently struck Myanmar. Mia has cultivated personal, academic, and professional ties to the country over the past decade. Her connection began with a backpacking trip in 2014 that evolved into her academic career. She also served as board chair of the Myanmar Institut in Germany and currently works on Southeast Asia policy issues.
When the earthquake hit, after checking in on her friends in Myanmar and along the Thai border, she was overwhelmed by emotion and helplessness. But rather than simply repost traumatic images, she turned to a lesson from her early time in Myanmar: Burmese generosity. She recalls, âYou have to be thankful for giving,â and used this insight to encourage meaningful, grassroots donations.
Mia challenges Western narratives that cast Myanmar as mainly a victim. She emphasizes the resilience and reciprocity of its peopleâboth within the country and in exile. She also reflects critically on the ethical responsibilities of Western researchers, highlighting the importance of acknowledging privilege and subjective bias, and the willingness to engage with humility in collaborative endeavors.
Her message to fellow allies is clear: show empathy, offer material support, and donât be deterred by complexity. âEven ten euros make a little difference,â she says. Ultimately, despite the many challenges, Mia concludes with an enduring sentiment: âI still have hope.â
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Episode #334: James Rodehaver, head of the UN Human Rights Office on Myanmar, describes the aftermath of the countryâs recent earthquake as a crisis layered upon crises. With communities already devastated by a brutal military regime, the natural disaster has only intensified their suffering. Yet instead of pausing hostilities, the military launched over 100 attacks in just nine daysâmany targeting rescue efforts and civilians. Consistent with a long-standing pattern, the junta has weaponized aid, restricting access to opposition-held areas and rebranding the disaster to channel relief only to zones it controls. The militaryâs strategy appears deliberately cruel. Notably, paramotorsâsilent man-powered gliders used to drop explosivesâhave struck rescue workers and survivors. Despite a declared ceasefire, attacks continue, reinforcing the militaryâs aim to break morale in opposition areas.
As a result, the humanitarian response has been severely hampered. Adding to this, civil society had already been gutted by years of conscription, repression, and exile, so now, the only ones digging through the rubble are poorly equipped civilians, often under threat of violence or forced labor. Rodehaver notes that even informal relief efforts are becoming increasingly difficult.
Rodehaver calls for a coordinated international political push, and a unified resistance front. He envisions a broad platform where anti-junta groups can articulate shared goals. Only through trust, coordination, and outside pressure, he argues, can progress be made. Closing with a personal note, he honors those inside Myanmar: âTheir courage and unflappable will to keep on resisting tyranny ... has been inspirational.â
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Episode #333: âThe challenging times that we are facing reveal more than what we should doâthey reveal who we should be.â
So says Jeshua Soh, a Singaporean entrepreneur who has built a life in Myanmar grounded in long-term commitment, creativity, and service. Calling himself a contrarian in his life and business choices, he was first drawn to the country after a teenage-year visit in 2012; his connection to the country strengthened through volunteer work and friendships. To solve problems of hiring in his field, video production, where global freelancers and Singaporeans alike frequently left his employ for more lucrative gigs, he decided to take a chance and open a Yangon office for his company, building on his feeling of connection to the country. It worked. His Burmese team proved remarkably loyal; soon, other startups asked to place staff with him because of his success and growing expertise in the Myanmar business climate. This led to the launch of Crosswork, an HR-as-a-service platform that now supports over 120 employees.
Alongside running his business, Jeshua launched a storytelling campaign to counter Myanmarâs negative global image and highlight the countryâs culture, people, and potential. He has also taken on humanitarian initiatives, including cycling from Singapore and walking 500 kilometers from Bangkok to raise over 150,000 SGD for the Mae Tao Clinic. Just minutes after completing the walk, a powerful earthquake struck central Myanmar, prompting Jeshua and his team to quickly mobilize and lead extensive relief efforts.
A core concern for Jeshua is Myanmarâs brain drain. He urges those whoâve left not to give up on returning, warning that international aid alone canât substitute for skilled citizens who help rebuild. While he acknowledges safety concerns and doesnât romanticize the countryâs challenges, Jeshua believes in choosing action over paralysis. âIâm swinging for the fences,â he says. âAnd I think that there is value in a bit of contrarian thinking. Usually, it starts off something like a crazy ideaâ[that is] until more people start following!â
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