Security Nexus | Webinar Episode 8: Myanmar: Three Years of Conflict, What’s Next?

By |2024-03-04T13:16:38-10:00February 22nd, 2024|Categories: Byrd, Minnich, news, Media, Security Nexus Webinar|Tags: , |

By James M. Minnich Nestled in Southeast Asia, Myanmar’s story unfolds like a tapestry woven with threads of hope and resilience, yet darkened by the shadows of ongoing conflict. From the vibrant heart of Honolulu, Hawaii, the Daniel K. Inouye Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies hosted the 8th episode of its Security Nexus | Webinar on February 12th, titled “Myanmar: Three Years of Conflict, What’s Next?” This episode, hosted by retired U.S. Army Colonel and Professor James Minnich, took a deep dive into Myanmar’s prolonged conflict and pondered the future paths the country might take. The webinar featured Professor [...]

OpEd: A prescription to revive the Myanmar economy 

By |2024-01-30T15:12:26-10:00January 30th, 2024|Categories: Faculty Articles, Byrd, news|Tags: , , , |

Approaching the third anniversary of its internal conflict, Myanmar is currently experiencing a precarious state of disarray within the military junta and its armed forces, teetering on the verge of collapse. Recent setbacks have dealt a severe blow to their morale. Major border trade cities and towns in the north and west have been lost to the anti-junta resistance coalition. The military's once-unquestioned tactical air superiority is now showing signs of degradation, marked by successive aircraft losses in the skies. 

Dr. Byrd briefs members of Japan’s Upper House

By |2024-01-16T09:58:48-10:00January 16th, 2024|Categories: Byrd, news|Tags: , |

DKI APCSS’ Dr. Miemie Winn Byrd recently briefed the Members of Japan’s Upper House on the current situation in Myanmar.  The meeting was convened and hosted by MP Mr. Masaharu Nakagawa, the Chair of the Parliamentary Committee to Support Myanmar Democracy; Chair of the General Meeting of Democratic Party Diet Members; a former Minister of Finance; and Minister of Education, Culture, Sport, Science & Technology.  The meeting was held at the Diet on Dec. 9, 2023. She also briefed the Asian and Oceanian Affairs Bureau/ Southeast and Southwest Asian Affairs Department at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.  Dr. Byrd provided [...]

Myanmar Economy in Tailspin, 2 Years after the Military Coup

By |2023-02-01T12:22:41-10:00February 1st, 2023|Categories: Faculty Articles, Byrd, news|Tags: , , , |

Myanmar, also known as Burma, has been in an economic freefall since the failed military coup of February 2021. The coup, led by Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, has resulted in widespread conflict, unrest, and international condemnation.

Another Strategic Error from Myanmar’s Military Junta

By |2022-08-01T08:21:10-10:00July 26th, 2022|Categories: Faculty Articles, Byrd, news|Tags: , , |

On Monday morning (July 25, 2022), Myanmar’s military junta released the news that they executed four political prisoners who were leaders in the movement for democracy. Social media went into over-drive expressing outrage, sorrow, and defiance against the military junta. Domestically and internationally, communities swiftly condemned the unjust execution of the democracy movement leaders.  

Myanmar’s U-turn: Implications of the Military Coup on Strategic Competition in the Indo-Pacific

By |2022-01-04T13:57:21-10:00January 4th, 2022|Categories: Faculty Articles, External Publications, Byrd, news|Tags: , , |

Dr. Miemie Winn Byrd has a new article in the Journal for Indo-Pacific Affairs titled: "Myanmar’s U-turn: Implications of the Military Coup on Strategic Competition in the Indo-Pacific. " The article discusses the current crisis in Myanmar and China’s response to it. According to the author, China views Myanmar as an important land bridge to the Indian Ocean and alternative to the Malacca Strait. Direct access to the Indian Ocean would give China an enormous commercial and geopolitical advantage over its competitors. In addition, as the last remaining democracy on mainland Southeast Asia, Myanmar is the front line for democracy [...]

Women on the Front Lines in Myanmar’s Fight for Democracy

By |2021-09-10T10:38:53-10:00September 10th, 2021|Categories: Faculty Articles, External Publications, Byrd, news|Tags: , |

Dr. Miemie Byrd’s latest article “Women on the Front Lines in Myanmar’s Fight for Democracy,” was published by the Journal of Indo-Pacific Affairs, on Aug. 26. In this article, Byrd illustrates how the coup staged in Myanmar led to a brutal military crackdown, particularly against women. She states “The very first fatality of the military’s ruthless suppression was a 19-year-old woman named Mya Thwet Khine. A sniper fatally shot her in the head while she participated in a rally near Nay Pyi Taw, the country’s capital city. Since her death, many more female protesters have been killed, arrested, and assaulted [...]

Hindsight, Insight, Foresight: Thinking about Security in the Indo-Pacific.

By |2020-10-15T12:22:18-10:00October 14th, 2020|Categories: Allen, Turvold, Vuving, Wieninger, Tekwani, Watson, Byrd, Minnich, Burgoyne, DKI APCSS, publication, news, Mullins, Sitaraman, hemmings, Miyamoto|Tags: , , , , |

As part of the Daniel K. Inouye Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies 25th Anniversary, the Center created this publication, “Hindsight, Insight, Foresight: Thinking about Security in the Indo-Pacific,” to highlight important issues in the Indo-Pacific region. This book provides a tour d’horizon of the most consequential issues that are defining the global and regional security landscape in the Indo-Pacific. With hindsight, insight, and foresight in each of its chapters, the book offers a perspective to see this landscape in its dynamic making and re-making. Download the Digital Book Edited by Dr. Alexander L. Vuving, [...]

The Voice of America Burmese Service interviewed Dr. Miemie Winn Byrd

By |2020-09-04T11:17:52-10:00September 4th, 2020|Categories: Byrd, Women Peace and Security, news|Tags: , |

The Voice of America Burmese Service interviewed Dr. Miemie Winn Byrd about her thoughts on the 100th Anniversary of Voting Rights Act for American women this month.  Speaking in Burmese, she discussed the advancement of women in all sectors of American society today and continuous efforts to achieve total equality and inclusivity in America.  Dr. Byrd encouraged women to lean forward and see themselves as leaders.  She encouraged women to see themselves as relevant in sectors (such as politics and military) that are currently male dominant.  She stated her beliefs that more women's participation in the Myanmar peace process [...]

Security Implications of Mass Returning Migrant Workers Due to COVID-19 Crisis

By |2020-07-30T13:41:26-10:00July 29th, 2020|Categories: Byrd, Journal, news|Tags: , , |

“Security Implications of Mass Returning Migrant Workers Due to COVID-19 Crisis” is the title of a paper written by Dr. Miemie Winn Byrd for Security Nexus. This paper details the challenges migrant workers face and the resulting security issues brought on by COVID-19. Abstract: The issue of mass returning migrant workers has broad implications for human, national and regional security domains that go well beyond increasing unemployment. This paper reports on the complex web of security challenges surrounding migrant labor, as identified by security practitioners from the region. Regional and international cooperation are required to effectively manage the system [...]

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