[Webinar Series: Listening to Voices from Myanmar] Session 7: From Crisis to Hope: Building a Federal Future in Myanmar
Since the military attempted a coup in Myanmar on February 1, 2021, the country has been thrown into chaos with over 2 million internally displaced persons as the military’s oppression and escalating conflicts with ethnic revolutionary organizations intensifies. The death toll from the military crackdown has already reached nearly 6,000 people. While Japan is the largest aid donor to Myanmar, it has not exerted its influence in the correct manner, while continuing its Official Development Assistance (ODA) after the coup attempt and supplying public funds to businesses related to the military. Moreover, the situation in regions inhabited by ethnic minorities who have long sought autonomy and the voices of people with diverse backgrounds have not been well understood in Japan.
This webinar seminars is co-hosted by the #NoMoreBusinessWithJunta campaign organizers (Mekong Watch, ayus:Network of Buddhists Volunteers on International Cooperation, Friends of the Earth Japan, Japan International Volunteer Center (JVC), and Network Against Japan Arms Trade (NAJAT)) with Progressive Voice. The webinar series intends to amplify voices of the people of Myanmar to Japan. We will discuss and hear ground updates, historical background of conflicts, situation in ethnic minority areas, and what the civil society from Myanmar expects from the Japanese government and society, featuring Myanmar activists and NGO staff as guest speakers.
Session 7: From Crisis to Hope: Building a Federal Future in Myanmars
| Date and Time | December 12, 2024 (Thursday) 19:00-20:30 JST |
| Where | Online Event (Zoom Webinar) |
| Language | English (with simultaneous Japanese interpretation) |
| Participation Fee | Free |
| Registration Form | https://x.gd/71MP71 |
| Speaker | Khin Ohmar; Chairperson, Progressive Voice Banya Khung Aung; Secretary – 2, Karenni State Interim Executive Council |
| Co-organized by | NoMoreBusinessWithJunta campaign organizers (Mekong Watch, ayus:Network of Buddhists Volunteers on International Cooperation, Friends of the Earth Japan, Japan International Volunteer Center (JVC), and Network Against Japan Arms Trade (NAJAT)) with Progressive Voice |
| Contact | Mekong Watch info@mekongwatch.org |
| Relevant resources | Progressive Voice. Federalism from the Group Up: The Karenni Model of Nation-State Building, Progressive Voice. https://progressivevoicemyanmar.org/2024/10/09/federalism-from-the-ground-up-the-karenni-model-of-nation-state-building/ |
Speaker Profiles
Khin Ohmar
Democracy and human rights activist, Founder and Chairperson of Progressive Voice. Khin Ohmar has been involved in Myanmar’s pro-democracy movement since her university days in 1988 as Myanmar students spearheaded a nationwide pro-democracy uprising. Since then, she has been working towards human rights, democracy, justice, and peace in Myanmar from abroad. She is the founder and chairperson of Progressive Voice, an advocacy and research group working towards federal democracy in Myanmar. It was born out of the work of Burma Partnership, a coalition of groups seeking democracy and human rights in Myanmar.
Banya Khung Aung
Banya Khung Aung is a former Karenni refugee and human rights activist. He had served several positions in the exile democracy movement and civil society movement. After his social science studies, he worked at Equality Myanmar, formerly known as Human Rights Education Institute of Burma (HREIB) and Foundation for Education and Development (FED). He is the founder of Karenni Human Rights Group (KnHRG) and had served as its director until last June. After the failed coup attempt, he represented civil society as the Karenni State Consultative Council’s (KSCC) Humanitarian Focal person. He currently serves as Secretary 2 of the Interim Executive Council of Karenni State (IEC).
