Union Advisory Council Announced
What's Happening in Myanmar
With Amara Thiha, non-resident fellow with the China Program at the Stimson Center. This fortnight on episode 63 of What’s Happening in Myanmar, the military’s election conclude to China’s approval, with coup leader Min Aung Hlaing enacting a new law to extend the military’s oversight of the soon-to-be-formed, military-designed civilian administration. Email the show at Timecodes— (00:00) Opening (02:05) Conflict and civilian attacks over election period (03:40) With Seng, the ongoing case at the ICJ (03:54) Military elections conclude (04:48) The new Union Advisory Council Law...
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Third Phase of Voting & Arguments at the ICJ
What's Happening in Myanmar
We identified and corrected a factual error in this episode. With Seng, human rights advocate from Myanmar. This week on episode 62 of What’s Happening in Myanmar, the military’s Union Election Commission reduces the areas where voting will occur in the final phase of its so-called election on January 25, and we discuss the background and ongoing arguments of the Gambia’s long-delayed case at the International Court of Justice, where it accuses Myanmar of breaking the UN Genocide Convention for its atrocities against the Rohingya people. Email the show at Timecodes— (00:00) Opening ...
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Military 'Election' Nears Conclusion
What's Happening in Myanmar
With Ben Dunant, former editor-in-chief of Frontier Myanmar, independent journalist, and election observer at multiple missions for the Carter Centre. This week on episode 61 of What’s Happening in Myanmar, resistance groups across the Dry Zone disturb polls and attack multiple positions during the second phase of voting in the military’s election, politician Thet Thet Khaing is detained and accused of unauthorized meetings with foreign embassy staff, and we discuss the military’s election on the ground in Yangon. Email the show at Timecodes— (00:00) Opening (01:39) Thet Thet...
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Election Convoy Attacked & Struggles in Mizoram
What's Happening in Myanmar
With Hannah Russell, higher education program manager at the Institute of Chin Affairs, and Bik Te, scholarship coordinator at the ICA. This week on episode 60 of What’s Happening in Myanmar, the Nay Pyi Taw PDF attacks a Union Election Commission convoy, pro-regime political parties complain about the military’s problematic so-called election, and we discuss the challenging situation for the tens of thousands of post-coup Myanmar and Chin refugees sheltering in Mizoram State, India. Email the show at Timecodes— (00:00) Opening (01:13) Attack on UEC convoy (02:23) Pro-regime...
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Resistance Groups On the Front Foot in the New Year
What's Happening in Myanmar
With Frontier Myanmar editor-in-chief Thu Thu Aung and independent journalist Lorcan Lovett. This week on episode 59 of What’s Happening in Myanmar, conflict rages as resistance forces launch new offensives, the air force bombs a resort town and kills four children, the military administration holds the first phase of its problematic elections, and we talk about the difficult reporting and information environment facing Myanmar and what media organisations can do to survive and thrive in 2026. Email the show at Timecodes— (00:00) Opening (01:31) War rages over election New Year period ...
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The New Spring Revolution Alliance
What's Happening in Myanmar
With Su Mon, senior analyst for the Asia Pacific at the Armed Conflict Location Event Data organisation. This week on episode 58 of What’s Happening in Myanmar, the Spring Revolution Alliance is formed, the military detains well-known non-violent protester Htet Myat Aung, and we review another year of war in Myanmar—and what’s around the corner in 2026. Email the show at Timecodes— (00:00) Opening (01:04) The new Spring Revolution Alliance (03:34) Htet Myat Aung detained in Mandalay (06:28) With Su Mon, conflict in 2025 (13:57) The future of conflict in 2026 (19:29) PDFs lack of...
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Military Elections Loom & Atrocities Continue
What's Happening in Myanmar
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 Timecodes— (00:00) Opening (01:37) Military atrocities and civilian airstrikes (03:40) Silent strike against elections ...
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Fighting in Mogok & A Climate Plan for Kawthoolei
What's Happening in Myanmar
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 Timecodes— (00:00) Opening (01:21) Fighting in Mogok (03:16)...
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Trump Unsettles Myanmar in US
What's Happening in Myanmar
With Michael Haack, an activist and board member of Campaign for a New Myanmar. This week on episode 55 of What’s Happening in Myanmar, the Karen National Liberation Army takes control of a Myawaddy scam compound, the military re-enters Mogok and Mongmit, Belarusian president Aleksandr Lukashenko visits Nay Pyi Taw, and we talk about the Trump administration’s many bombshells this week affecting the legal status of Myanmar people in the US. Email the show at Timecodes— (00:00) Opening (01:12) KNLA takes scam compound (04:30) Military 505(a) amnesty “for elections”...
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Election Violence Hits Yangon & Shwe Kokko Raided
What's Happening in Myanmar
With Joseph Young, Daily Briefing newsletter writer for Frontier Myanmar. This week on episode 54 of What’s Happening in Myanmar, the Karen National Liberation Army takes another border town, the Philippines announces its 2026 ASEAN special envoy on Myanmar, the military raids the Shwe Kokko scam compound, and we talk about China’s influence on northern Shan State and what’s behind the military’s moves in Myawaddy. Email the show at Timecodes— (00:00) Opening (01:16) Election violence hits Yangon (03:21) New ASEAN special envoy to Myanmar (04:13) KNLA takes Maw Taung...
info_outlineWith outgoing Frontier Myanmar editor-in-chief Ben Dunant and incoming editor-in-chief Thu Thu Aung. This week on What’s Happening in Myanmar, our two editors talk about Frontier and the Myanmar media landscape as Thu Thu takes the reigns from Ben, who is moving on after seven years at Frontier.
Email the show at whimyanmar@proton.me
Timecodes—
01m51s :: Introducing Thu Thu Aung
04m35s :: Ben being a foreign journalist before the coup
07m01s :: Thu Thu’s career
19m06s :: Ben as editor-in-chief in exile
28m08s :: Frontier’s 10th birthday
28m56s :: Close
Our guests—
Thu Thu Aung, Frontier’s editor-in-chief
Ben Dunant, Frontier’s outgoing editor-in-chief
New content on the Frontier website:
A ‘brotherly’ fight: Chin factions battle over Indian border
Fighting to the last: The TNLA digs in
Other Frontier reports mentioned in this episode: