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 whimyanmar@proton.me

Timecodes—

(00:00) Opening

(01:17) Military cancels third phase voting in townships

(04:46) With Seng, the ongoing case at the ICJ

(15:12) Why The Gambia?

(17:12) Prosecution arguments

(22:21) Evaluating The Gambia's approach

(27:09) The military delegation strategy

(31:39) Upcoming nationalist protests

(44:26) Success and failure at the ICJ

(50:30) Close

Our guests—

Seng, a human rights advocate from Myanmar

New on the Frontier website:

No alternative: The junta's election and Myanmar's first-time voters
Learning the hard way: Students warn against MBA scams

Referenced this episode:

Military Elections Will Not Resolve Myanmar's Deeper Problems
Secretary Antony J. Blinken on the Genocide and Crimes Against Humanity in Burma
IAGS RESOLUTION: Persecution of Rohingya By Myanmar Is Genocide & Crimes Against Humanity
THE HAGUE – The International Court of Justice (ICJ) holds public hearings in the case The Gambia v. Myanmar
Who is Myanmar Regime Apologist Ko Ko Hlaing?
Ultranationalist group plans anti-Rohingya rally in Yangon as ICJ hearings proceed

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 whimyanmar@proton.me

Timecodes—

(00:00) Opening

(01:39) Thet Thet Khaing detained

(02:42) Second phase over

(03:05) Electoral violence over second phase

(05:05) With Ben Dunant, reporting on the elections in Yangon

(08:43) Locations and opportunities to observes

(15:08) Security and accreditation to report

(18:41) Voter attitudes

(30:18) Election results

(41:29) Close

Our guests—

Ben Dunant, former editor-in-chief of Frontier Myanmar, and independent journalist

New original content from Frontier this week:

Is Min Aung Hlaing looking over both shoulders?
Costs of copper: Residents near mines suffer under junta's heavy hand

Referenced this episode:

VIDEO: Confronting the man who followed the ABC while reporting on Myanmar's elections

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 whimyanmar@proton.me

Timecodes—

(00:00) Opening

(01:13) Attack on UEC convoy

(02:23) Pro-regime parties unhappy with phase 1 of election

(03:57) With Bik Te & Hannah Russell, the Chin refugee community in Mizoram

(08:30) Links between zo and Chin people

(13:04) Chin livelihoods in Mizoram

(23:54) Challenges accessing education in Mizoram

(36:54) How can people support the community

(41:14) Close

Our guests—

Bik Te, scholarship coordinator at the Institute of Chin Affairs

Hannah Russell, higher education program manager at the Institute of Chin Affairs

Referenced this episode:

Fear and loathing greet Myanmar's unfree election
Hannah's fundraising run
The issue of IJBS on displacement to Mizoram
Fragmented Aid & Resistance along the India-Myanmar Border
In India's Mizoram, programs for Myanmar refugees struggle to survive amid US aid cuts
Mental Health, Gender, and Conflict

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 whimyanmar@proton.me

Timecodes—

(00:00) Opening

(01:31) War rages over election New Year period

(02:12) KIA progress in Bhamo

(03:00) Budalin clashes

(04:35) NUG PDFs attack DDI infrastructure

(06:37) December 28 polls

(10:31) With Thu Thu Aung and Lorcan Lovett, media in 2026 Myanmar

(27:41) Technological change and AI

(37:42) Close

Our guests—

Thu Thu Aung, editor-in-chief of Frontier Myanmar

Lorcan Lovett, independent journalist, his On Myanmar Substack

And his recent piece for Nieman Reports: Myanmar's Independent Media Innovates to Survive

New original content on the Frontier website:

India group raises awareness about Myanmar's anti-junta resistance

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 whimyanmar@proton.me

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 ammunition

(28:23) The militarisation of society

(31:30) Close

Our guests—

Su Mon, senior analyst for the Asia Pacific at the Armed Conflict Location Event Data organisation

New original content on the Frontier website:

'Hard to fight': Weapon shortages hamper resistance groups

Rebuilding lives, stitch by stitch

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 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 whimyanmar@proton.me

Timecodes—

(00:00) Opening

(01:12) KNLA takes scam compound

(04:30) Military 505(a) amnesty "for elections"

(07:45) Military marches into Mogok & Mongmit

(08:52) Belarus president visits Myanmar

(10:56) With Michael Haack, the Trump administration's announcements

(14:30) Revoking TPS

(20:57) Retroactively vet and reassess status of Myanmar refugees from 2021

(26:03) Re-examining permanent residency green cards

(36:01) Close

Our guests—

Michael Haack, an activist and key organizer for passing the Burma Act in the United States

How the BURMA Act passed congress
What happened to the BURMA Act?

New original content on the Frontier website:

'I had never done this in my life': Poverty pushes many to beg in Rakhine

Further referenced this episode:

'A constant fear': Myanmar nationals face imprisonment back home as US ends protected status