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 [...]

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