Since its outbreak in February, the political crisis in Myanmar has yet to come to a halt. Recent reports mention the intensification of civil disobedience despite the deadly crackdown on protesters leading to hundreds of them killed. In such situation, the coup could undermine the stability of democracy and national security, not to mention the clash that is likely to lead to a civil war. Moreover, the regime arrests, harasses, and assaults towards pro-democracy activists for organizing or participating in peaceful demonstrations have the potential to affect regional stability.

ASEAN is now facing tremendous pressure by the international community who are criticising it for not issuing a fast enough response, despite the open conflict, aggressive use of force, and violation of human rights happening within its own backyard. Two months after the tensions, ASEAN member states plan to engage in a crisis meeting in the upcoming weeks. With casualties and fatalities rising, member states must act fast.

This first episode of ASEAN PodQuest invited Thiha Wint Aung. Thiha was originally trained as a medical doctor with a degree from University of Medicine, Mandalay and he was active in student politics during his university years. In 2019, he studied Master’s degree in Public Policy in National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies (GRIPS) in Tokyo, Japan. His thesis was on 1962 military coup d’état in Myanmar. After he graduated from GRIPS, he rejoined Forum of Federations as Senior Program Manager. Just like every young people in Myanmar, now he is passionately resisting another military coup d’état that happened on February 2021. His main interests are nation building, South East Asian studies and technology and politics.  This episode is expected to delve into the ongoing crisis in Myanmar and discuss urgent topics related to the recent coup from a human rights perspective.