Former Myanmar lawmaker Shwe Maung was presented with a stark choice: Use the term “Rohingya” or lose his political career in July 2015. His account brings back to light Myanmar’s longstanding Rohingya identity crisis, where identity, citizenship and political rights are all intertwined. Shwe Maung remembers his meeting with senior USDP official U Aung Thaung. He states that Aung Thaung …

Thadingyut Festival of Lights is one of the most important Buddhist festivals of Myanmar, which signifies the end of 3-month Buddhist Lent (Vassa). The festival, which spans three public holidays, is observed across the family and community by participating in religious activities, lighting up pagodas and treating everyone with respect. The in-depth experience of Thadingyut Pyokkum Myanmar will be enhanced …

Malaysia is seeking to bring Myanmar back into the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in a move that brings back the discussion on how the regional bloc should involve itself with Myanmar’s military backed government.  Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim announced that his government would do everything it can to reintegrate Myanmar into the regional community on October 8, …

Thailand cut off energy supply to several districts in neighbouring Myanmar on Wednesday. Which has a billion-dollar online scam industry including sites that are the heart of a worldwide cyber scams. Online scam factories many of which are managed by Chinese crime syndicates.  It developed in Myanmar and has been embroiled in a violent civil conflict since the military took …

THAILAND: During a visit to Thailand on Sunday, Secretary of State Antony Blinken vowed to keep up the pressure on Myanmar’s regime, and said China should do the same. On the other hand, Blinken met with the Thai government and praised it for its support of the reinvigorated American effort in Southeast Asia, a vital region of competition with China. …

ASEAN – Families of arrested Myanmar protestors were disappointed to learn that political detainees were not among the 1,600 persons freed by the military junta to celebrate the Buddhist new year. The Southeast Asian country has been in upheaval since Aung San Suu Kyi’s democratic administration was deposed by a military coup last year, sparking massive demonstrations and a bloody crackdown. …

ASEAN – According to the host country, US President Joe Biden will meet with leaders of Southeast Asian countries in mid-May, with a probable focus on China’s expanding strength. The meeting, which was previously set for March, “will show the United States‘ continuing commitment to Asean,” according to White House press secretary Jen Psaki. “Serving as a strong, trusted partner …

Myanmar – According to US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Myanmar’s army committed genocide and crimes against humanity in its violence against the Rohingya minority, and that no one in the country is safe as long as the junta is in power. Blinken claimed the assaults on Rohingya were “widespread and systematic” and that evidence amounted to a clear goal …

Cambodia – After the Asean chair Cambodia has announced that the Washington summit together with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations had been postponed since not all leaders could go later this month, the White House stated on Thursday that it is exploring other dates. Last month, the White House announced that US President Joe Biden will convene an Asean …

Myanmar – According to a Cambodian foreign ministry official, a Southeast Asian special envoy will visit Myanmar from March 20 to 23, in an attempt to start a peace process in a nation ravaged by turmoil since a coup a year ago. Last month, Cambodia’s foreign minister, Prak Sokhonn, requested Myanmar’s governing generals to allow him to speak with all …