What's Happening in Myanmar – Détails, épisodes et analyse

With Jared Bissinger, visiting fellow at the Myanmar Studies Program at the ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute in Singapore, and research lead at Catalyst Economics. This week on episode 57 of What's Happening in Myanmar, a silent strike simmers in towns and cities, overseas voters shun the military's elections, airstrikes devastate civilians, and we discuss the Myanmar national economy's opportunities and constraints going into 2026.

Email the show at whimyanmar@proton.me

Timecodes—

(00:00) Opening

(01:37) Military atrocities and civilian airstrikes

(03:40) Silent strike against elections

(04:28) Thai foreign minister in Nay Pyi Taw

(05:30) Lack of advance voting overseas

(06:09) Foreign arrivals closely scrutinized

(07:10) Military detentions under elections law

(13:11) Effects of the earthquake

(16:50) Winners and losers in the conflict economy

(19:50) Land border trade

(33:53) What to look for in future RE the economy

(37:57) Close

Our guests—

Jared Bissinger, a Visiting Fellow at the Myanmar Studies Program at the ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute in Singapore, and Research Lead at Catalyst Economics.

How China outmanoeuvres the West in Myanmar

His panel on Monday

New original content on the Frontier website:

'Election under fear': Junta persecutes critics of its poll

With Ah Oo, member of the secretariat of the Kawthoolei Natural Resources and Environmental Conservation Committee (KNRECC), and Paul Sein Twa, co-founder and executive director of the Karen Environmental and Social Action Network and also a member of the KNRECC. This week on episode 56 of What's Happening in Myanmar, election pressures and protests intensify, battles rage in and around Mogok, the regime's scam crackdown widens, and we discuss the new Kawthoolei Climate Action Plan.

Email the show at whimyanmar@proton.me

Timecodes—

 (00:00) Opening

(01:21) Fighting in Mogok

(03:16) Military scam crackdowns

(05:27) Elections pressure and detentions

(10:09) With Ah Oo & Paun Sein Twa, K-CAP

(23:22) A climate plan in a conflict zone

(28:52) Other EAOs and K-CAP

(36:18) Future of K-CAP

(44:32) Close

Our guests—

Ah Oo, member of the secretariat of the Kawthoolei Natural Resources and Environmental Conservation Committee (KNRECC).

Paul Sein Twa, co-founder and executive director of the Karen Environmental and Social Action Network and also part of KNRECC.

Paul Sein Twa's Goldman Prize

Kawthoolei Natural Resources and Environmental Conservation Committee

New original content on the Frontier website:

Justice in limbo: NUG stalls probe into civilian deaths

Further referenced this episode:

Junta officials and troops pressure Mandalay residents to vote in door-to-door intimidation campaign

With Carlos Sardiña Galache, author and Frontier Myanmar digital editor. This week on episode 47 of What's Happening in Myanmar, the military retakes Kyaukme, Senior General Min Aung Hlaing returns from Central Asia as his air force kills dozens of civilians across the country, and we discuss this week's United Nations conference on the Rohingya along with Arakan Army leadership. 

Email the show at whimyanmar@proton.me

Timecodes—

01m06s :: News roundup
04m05s :: With Carlos Sardiña Galache, the UN conference on the Rohingya
09m53s :: The AA accuses the BGB of assisting Rohingya militants
14m16s :: Twan Mrat Naing's interview
30m30s :: The NUG and the Rohingya
38m21s :: Close

Our guests—

Carlos Sardiña Galache, author and digital editor at Frontier Myanmar

His book: The Burmese Labyrinth

New original content on the Frontier website:

UN says Myanmar military razed Rohingya villages in 'a systematic pattern'
The cost of trade or Myanmar's economic struggle amid shortages and soaring prices

Further referenced this episode:

AA Chief Defends Rakhine Rebels Against Charges of Genocide
'They don't represent us': Rohingya armed groups wreak havoc in Rakhine
Updated Timeline: Myanmar Junta's Nuclear Ambitions

With Dustin Barter and Stella Naw, two co-authors of a new ODI report on humanitarianism and revolutionary state-building in Myanmar. This week on episode 46 of What's Happening in Myanmar, the resistance takes Banmauk, a Kachin Independence Army camp is hit with a precision airstrike, rights organisations react to Sweden ceasing development aid, and we discuss why international donors and humanitarian actors should engage with the new "pluralistic state" of Myanmar.

Email the show at whimyanmar@proton.me

Timecodes—

01m19s :: News roundup
02m41s :: With Stella Naw & Dustin Barter, an aid rethink
16m21s :: The pluralistic state
25m54s :: Risk aversion and risk taking for aid
33m17s :: Recommendations for resistance
40m56s :: Close

Our guests—

Dustin Barter, Senior Research Fellow in the Humanitarian Policy Group at ODI Global

Stella Naw, academic activist working on Indigenous and decolonial peacebuilding and governance practices

And the reports under discussion:

Making Myanmar: humanitarianism amid revolutionary state-building
Sweden ends development aid to Myanmar, abandoning media and civil society

Plus, new original content on the Frontier website:

Viral justice: Social media and the court of public opinion
The perils of abortion for Myanmar women
Seeking solidarity for Myanmar in a cruel world

With Naing Min Khant, emerging researcher at the Institute for Strategy and Policy, Myanmar. This week on episode 45 of What's Happening in Myanmar, the military regime makes gains in Bhamo, the air force bombs and kills dozens of students at a high school, the Union Election Commission declares 56 townships will not be part of December's so-called elections, and we discuss the likelihood of change within the Myanmar military's leadership, as the fourth generation of officers eye off the top job.

Email the show at whimyanmar@proton.me

Timecodes—

01m06s :: News roundup
02m41s :: With Naing Min Khant, the military's leadership
10m19s :: How does change happen
15m22s :: Min Aung Hlaing's popularity in the military
24m12s :: Anti-China sentiment  
48m37s :: Close

Our guests—

Naing Min Khant, emerging researcher at ISP-Myanmar

And the ISP-Myanmar report under discussion:

ISP On Point No. 27: Prospective 4th Generation Tatmadaw: Payhways to Reform or Further Regression?

Plus, new original content on the Frontier website:

Q&A: 'Civilians should never be targeted'
Doh Athan: Regime airstrike on school leaves trauma in its wake

Tweet:

This week on Frontier's podcast What's Happening in Myanmar, regime gains in Bhamo, air force bombs kill dozens of students sheltering in a high school in Kyauktaw Township, and ISP-Myanmar's Naing Min Khant talks about the prospects for the upcoming fourth generation of Myanmar military leadership.

With Michael Lidauer, an international elections expert with experience in Myanmar since 2010. This week on episode 44 of What's Happening in Myanmar, the Kayin State Border Guard Force declares its support for the military's elections, as its leaders and associates are sanctioned by the United States for facilitating the scam industry, and we discuss the technical aspects of the military running polls at the end of the year.

Email the show at whimyanmar@proton.me

Timecodes—

01m34s :: News roundup
03m01s :: With Michael Lidauer, the 2020 elections
10m37s :: Military's planned 2025 elections
14m54s :: The Union Election Commission
19m41s :: Electoral system change to PR
28m20s :: Political parties
39m02s :: Observers
46m21s :: Close

Our guests—

Michael Lidauer, international elections expert

New original content on the Frontier website:

Q&A: 'Civilians should never be targeted'
Doh Athan: Regime airstrike on school leaves trauma in its wake

Further referenced this episode:

Aiding Oppression or Saving Lives? The Dry Zone's Humanitarian Reckoning

With Nandar, member of the Generations Solidarity Coalition of Nationalities, and participant in the anti-sham elections campaign. This week on episode 43 of What's Happening in Myanmar, coup leader Senior General Min Aung Hlaing is in China, while at home his military continues its offensives killing civilians, revolutionaries try to prevent the region from accepting the legitimacy of the military's planned elections, and we discuss the Anti-Sham Election Campaign's aims and strategies.

Email the show at whimyanmar@proton.me

Timecodes—

02m03s :: News roundup
05m16s :: With Nandar, the Anti-Sham Election Campaign
15m26s :: Legitimacy
28m11s :: Close

Our guests—

Nandar, from the Generations Solidarity Coalition Nationalities

The Sham Election Campaign Linktree

New original content on the Frontier website:

The junta positions itself in the new world order
Fear and voting in Myanmar: Junta election heralds more violence

Further referenced this episode:

Will the China–Myanmar meandering railway project get started soon?
David Mathieson on the ANU's Myanmar Research Centre podcast in 2018

With Nicholas Coppel, former Australian ambassador to Myanmar and president of the Australia Myanmar Institute. This week on episode 42 of What's Happening in Myanmar, the military captures two mines from resistance forces, the historic Gokteik viaduct sustains major damage, and we discuss the consequences of the military's planned elections starting on December 28.

Email the show at whimyanmar@proton.me

Timecodes—

01m31s :: Conflict updates
05m16s :: With Nicholas Copperl, the military elections
25m25s :: Is it all about Min Aung Hlaing?
33m43s :: The military's plans post-election
38m04s :: Close

Our guests—

Nicholas Coppel, former Australian ambassador to Myanmar from 2015 to 2018, honorary fellow at the University of Melbourne, and president of the Australia Myanmar Institute.

His latest publication: Media weaponisation in Myanmar and the world's relative indifference to its crisis

With Stephen Campbell, associate professor in Social Sciences at Nanyang Technological University, and Joseph Young, Daily Briefing writer at Frontier Myanmar. This week on episode 41 of What's Happening in Myanmar, massive airstrikes occur around the country as the military continues offensives, and we discuss union members being sent to Insein prison, and the UWSA's declaration of non-assistance after admitting pressure from China.

Email the show at whimyanmar@proton.me

Timecodes—

00m52s :: Union members sent to Insein
02m55s :: With Stephen Campbell, the STUM and Myo Myo Aye 
15m25s :: Economic agenda before the coup
21m13s :: With Joseph Young, conflict and UWSA statement
38m58s :: Close

Our guests—

Stephen Campbell, associate professor, School of Social Sciences, Nanyang Technological University

And

Joseph Young, daily briefing writer for Frontier Myanmar

Other new content on the Frontier website:

Back in business: Zahkung Ting Ying tries to rebuild his empire
After the flood: Heavy rain hits hard on Kachin's border with China
Shattered sanctuaries: Quake-damaged mosques fight for survival

Check out the latest episode of Doh Athan, Frontier's podcast on human rights issues in Myanmar.

With Hka San Lwi, editor-in-chief of Kachin Waves. This week on What's Happening in Myanmar, major ethnic armed organisations make statements on peace and war, the military presses its advantage right across the country, and we discuss why the struggle for Bhamo remains the most consequential battle for the revolution going forward.

Email the show at whimyanmar@proton.me

Timecodes—

01m18s :: News roundup
05m09s :: With Hka San Lwi, continuing fighting for Bhamo
27m52s :: Flash flooding in Laiza
28m35s :: Close

Our guests—

Hka San Lwi, editor-in-chief of Kachin Waves

New content on the Frontier website:

The price of control: War sinks Rakhine State's economy
'Unable to compete': Northern Shan faces wave of Chinese investment