Earthquake Aftermath in Myanmar: Women Struggle Amidst Uncertain Future
SAGAING – The 7.7 magnitude earthquake that struck on March 28 left communities across Myanmar facing both physical and mental challenges in their day-to-day lives. As of April 22nd, nearly 3,800 people have died and 5,000 are injured, and more than 370 remain missing. At least 5 million people are severely affected, some in hard-to-reach […]
Cartoonists hit at ‘The ASEAN Way’
BANGKOK // An exhibition by SEA-Junction uses artworks to critique ASEAN’s principles of non-interference and consensus. Participants to this regional competition highlight ASEAN’s shortcomings in addressing human rights crises, especially in Myanmar.
The Full Moon of Darkness: Massacre in Sipa Village
SIPA, BUDALIN // On the day of the Festival of Light, two military columns entered the village, setting fire to homes and brutalizing the community. In a punitive and non-targeted strike against whoever they could find, the national military tortured and murdered six citizens in a now trademark display of brutal punishment meted out to those who might support democratic self-determination.
In Myanmar, Solar Power Isn’t Just About Being Green—It’s a Matter of Survival
For the past three years, Myanmar has been plunged frequently into darkness as the ruling junta’s corruption wreaks havoc on the country’s infrastructure. In this crisis, shifting to solar energy is less about environmental consciousness and more about a desperate need for survival.
From Yangon to Dubai, David’s Odyssey Into The Cyber Romance Scam World (I)
MAY 5th, 2024 // David* worked in a scam center in Dubai, targeting European men . His team posed as women on social media, luring targets into investing in fake platforms with promises of love and affection. His experience, a lifeline after fleeing Myanmar’s turmoil post-coup, sheds light on the dark underbelly of migrant exploitation and online scams prevalent in Southeast Asian borders but also in Dubai’s shadowy job market.
Airtrikes Epidemic (III) // “Not every house has a bomb shelter yet”
MARCH, 15th, 2024 // In the three years following the coup, the Myanmar military has conducted 1,652 airstrikes across the country. The Sagaing Region has been subject to the most aerial attacks to this date. Regionwide, bunkers and trenches are proliferating to protect civilians, such as Min Hla village.
Into the Life of Myanmar Women Factory Workers
FEBRUARY 26th, 2024 // Long familiar with the tiny gains and vicious crashes brought on by political shocks, workers in Myanmar now face insurmountable hardships as the fourth year post-coup gets underway. People must now decide either to shelter in place with no end in sight, or face down unknown conditions as migrant workers overseas. Young garment factory workers share their experiences from Yangon and Samut Prakarn, in neighbouring Thailand.
Checkpoints // Myanmar Map of Lawlessness
Shoddy concrete structures connected to the military have become a common and menacing sight in Myanmar. These pillboxes are being used by the military as watchtowers and strongholds from which they can erratically impose invasive checks on civilians, subjecting them to bullying, intimidation and arbitrary arrest.
Myanmar migrant workers in Thailand not invited to first social security board election
DECEMBER 4th, 2023 // At the end of the month, Thailand is hosting its first social security board election. Close to one million workers from Myanmar, who contribute equally to this multi-million dollar fund, are not allowed to participate. A Thai migrant worker rights advocate is running to represent Myanmar nationals and will be listed as a candidate.
Airstrikes Epidemic (II) // “Each time I ran from place to place, I got further and further away from home.”
SEPTEMBER 28th, 2023 // Amidst the sound of fire falling from the sky, they packed a few days’ worth of food and some clothes and headed for a place in the outskirts of Demoso, Karenni state. That departure from their house was the beginning of Yuri Soe’s endless family’s journey to escape the war.