Episódios
-
Episode #347: In the first part of this three-part series, three distinct yet intersecting voices reveal the human, political, and structural toll of the Myanmar crisis—and the inadequacy of ASEAN’s current response.
Charles Santiago, a veteran Malaysian politician and currently the chair of the Asean Parliamentarians for Human Rights, delivers a scathing critique of ASEAN’s “process-driven” stagnation in contrast to Indonesia’s proactive diplomacy. He argues that poverty and inequality—rooted in global economic systems—have eroded democratic values and enabled authoritarianism across the region. But Santiago sees a window of opportunity in Myanmar’s growing political unity, bottom-up federalist movements, and inclusive leadership, especially among women. He calls for ASEAN to formally recognize the National Unity Government (NUG), insist on a ceasefire and the release of political prisoners, and be prepared to downgrade Myanmar’s standing if these conditions aren’t met. His warnings are stark: the collapse of state functions has regional implications, from scam centers and arms proliferation to epidemic threats, and ASEAN’s failure to respond decisively risks its own irrelevance.
Tisana Choonhavan, a Thai MP and APHR member, brings the crisis to the border. Working with refugee education programs and advocating for exploited migrants in Mae Sot, she outlines the systemic abuse faced by political exiles who cannot legally register or work in Thailand. Choonhavan pushes for police reform, work permits through the pink card system, and refugee recognition—moves that would enhance both humanitarian outcomes and Thai national interests amid its aging population. She notes the tragic contradiction of Thailand denying a war exists while harboring tens of thousands fleeing that exact reality.
Aung Paw Moe, a young exile activist and former political prisoner, adds a quiet but powerful moral voice. Reflecting on his imprisonment and lost academic aspirations, he asserts that activism was never a choice—it was a duty. He calls on his peers to endure this historical moment with clarity and resolve, seeing it not as an aberration, but as a necessary transformation.
-
Episode #346: Mark Farmaner, Director of Burma Campaign UK, reflects on Myanmar’s multiple crises and shares his multi-decade relationship with the country. Initially engaged through public demonstrations, Farmaner’s work evolved into policy-oriented advocacy aimed at cutting off the military’s power through sanctions, revenue disruption, and denial of legitimacy. He criticizes international strategies rooted in the false hope of military reform, arguing that any compromise with the military only delays future unrest.
Two early focal points of advocacy—Aung San Suu Kyi and British business ties to the junta—have lost their power. Suu Kyi’s reputation declined following the Rohingya crisis, and Farmaner argues that her Bamar-Buddhist-majority outlook has alienated ethnic minorities. And international advocacy has fragmented as humanitarian emergencies divert civil society resources.
Despite setbacks, Farmaner detects unprecedented hope among resistance actors envisioning a future without the military. He argues Myanmar’s future lies in decentralized governance, where ethnic forces maintain regional control. He questions whether the NUG can form a central authority, especially given their lack of territorial control and strained relationships with some ethnic groups.
Farmaner calls for cutting arms and revenue to the military, demanding justice, and expanding humanitarian aid. He warns that reduced aid empowers the junta, which exploits crises like the recent earthquake to regain international legitimacy. Still, in spite of the overall lack of foreign assistance, local, grassroots, Burmese responses have been inspiring, and he urges allies to pressure elected officials directly in support.
Farmaner concludes optimistically: “I think it’s inevitable that the people of Burma will win their freedom.”
-
Estão a faltar episódios?
-
The host of Insight Myanmar was invited to speak on the Light Forest Podcast.
Here is a description of this platform:
"The Light Forest podcast is a journey of exploration to bring more Light into how we live and regenerate our planet away from 'Dark Forest' systems of extraction and fear. Join me for conversations with change makers from around the world, as we explore philosophies, technology, spirituality, and history that can help us get to the root of our global problems. Together we learn how to play our part in the regeneration of our planet, starting with our own minds, to create a Light Forest world."
The following description is added for this interview:
"We get into some of the deep contradictions that run through Buddhism in Burma & policy making: How a country that sought to center around Vipassana and meditation became one of the most violent places? We learn the ways Buddhist practices such as Vipassanā and mettā, and other principles are helping leaders in resistance groups, forming a “non-violent” movement as a path to peace and reconciliation."
-
Episode #345: Does any and all engagement with the junta equate to some form of complicity? Moe Thuzar of ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute challenges this notion by offering a nuanced perspective on ASEAN’s role in the Myanmar crisis following the 2021 coup. She argues that ASEAN’s diplomacy aims to exert influence and advocate for the Myanmar people’s aspirations.
Moe Thuzar begins by explaining that there are “multiple Myanmars” beyond Naypyidaw: “in the peri-urban and central areas, the delta, the periphery. And now the resistances.” Providing further nuance, she notes how for many, “ethnic armed organizations represent the aspirations of different communities and people in Myanmar broadly for change." Taking all this into consideration, she emphasizes the need for an “inside-out” approach that prioritizes the needs of these diverse communities, while challenging the atrocities committed by the SAC; a principle, she argues, that is increasingly reflected in ASEAN’s Myanmar strategy.
Addressing ASEAN’s “non-interference” principle, Moe Thuzar contends that “with Myanmar as an ASEAN Member since 1997, I would even go so far as to say that Myanmar has been the most interfered with under the ASEAN framework.” She suggests reframing this term as “non-indifference,” which better reflects ASEAN’s concern for regional stability. She then goes into detail on ASEAN’s evolving engagement through the different chairs since the coup (Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, and looking to Malaysia in 2025), and also describes the varying approaches and the challenges in implementing the Five-Point Consensus. While initial engagement with the junta faced criticism for potential legitimization, Jakarta’s chairmanship shifted towards broader stakeholder engagement. Yet Moe Thuzar understands the complexity of geopolitical concerns, and speaks of the need for a long-term, multi-year ASEAN strategy for continuity and effective coordination to ensure the end of violence.
The question lingers: can this regional endeavor untangle the Myanmar crisis? Drawing on ASEAN’s past diplomatic strategies, Moe Thuzar remains cautiously optimistic; yet only time will tell.
-
Episode #344: Dominic Faulder’s decades of reporting on Myanmar began serendipitously in 1981, when a Thai coup disrupted his travel plans and led to an impromptu journey to Burma for Thingyan. He was immediately struck by the atmosphere—enticing yet oppressive—and quickly became fascinated by the country's complexity, secrecy, and resilience. In the 1980s, he uncovered the unreported Mandalay fire, which destroyed a sixth of the city, and found that a similar catastrophe in the town of Taungdwingyi had also gone unnoticed. These early stories revealed the regime’s ability to conceal massive tragedies from the outside world.
Faulder reported extensively on the events leading up to the 1988 uprising. He witnessed the bravery of students, the absence of police in early demonstrations, and the eerie silence before the storm. His proximity to key figures—Aung San Suu Kyi, U Nu, Min Ko Naing—gave him unique access as history unfolded in real time.
Faulder eventually conducted a rare interview with General Saw Maung, a junta leader, an extraordinary feat given the regime’s paranoia. Despite Suu Kyi’s frustration that generals would speak to media but not political leaders, Faulder defended the role of journalists in documenting the moment. His reporting emphasized not just the courage of the protesters but the regime’s brutality, the fractures within the opposition, and the impossible balance journalists had to strike between access and truth-telling.
Like many other past guests who have described their multi-decade relationship with the country, Dominic reflects on the pull that Burma exerts on those who come to be involved with its story. “Foreigners get involved with Southeast Asia and stay much longer than they ever anticipated. But Burma, it is the one story that you always go back to, [asking] what-ifs and why do you think that is?”
-
Episode #343: “I literally thought the world was crumbling!”
Chloe, a young woman born and raised in Myanmar’s Inle Lake region, speaks viscerally about the country’s recent, devastating earthquake. The lake, known for its picturesque floating gardens and villages built on stilts, is one of Myanmar’s most iconic cultural landmarks. But the area is now in ruins. And while the structural damage was severe enough, the people were traumatized.
With minimal outside relief, and an ineffective and corrupt government unwilling and unable to help, Chloe felt she had to do something. So she and some friends launched a grassroots fundraising campaign. They started by giving out small cash donations but quickly realized the biggest need was reliable shelter. In previous disasters, monasteries had served as temporary sanctuaries, but these now lay in ruins, too. Emergency shelters were quickly put up, but they are flimsy and sometimes shared by more than one family. So she and her friends pivoted to the goal of helping families rebuild their homes.
Local initiatives like Chloe’s are driving the recovery, and in her view, it is this decentralized, community-led model that while necessary, is also inspiring. She talks about how a village will help one family with the biggest housing needs in rebuilding, then move onto the next, etc., until the whole village is taken care of. This kind of collective action has lifted spirits.
Yet the material needs and psychological effects of the earthquake remain acute, and in spite of the Burmese people’s famous self-reliance, they were already exhausted after the COVID pandemic, years of political repression and civil strife, last year’s catastrophic floods. So Chloe ends with a call to action for the global community, urging listeners not only to donate but to amplify the voices of those on the ground. “The more people know what’s happening in Inle, the more likely it is that more support and assistance will come, I believe, from inside the country and beyond.”
-
Episode #342: Dhammaloka, born Laurence Carroll in Dublin around 1856, was a unique figure in the history of Buddhism and anti-colonial resistance. Much of what we know today about Dhammaloka comes from Laurence Cox, Alicia Turner, and Brian Bocking in “The Irish Buddhist.”
Carroll left Ireland as a teenager, becoming a sailor and tramp, living on the margins of society. These experiences shaped his adaptability and led to his connection with Buddhism when he arrived in Burma. Unlike other Europeans, Laurence was not part of the elite—he was a working-class man who resonated deeply with Buddhist principles. Rangoon’s diverse environment enabled Laurence to align with marginalized communities resisting colonial rule. Eventually, he ordained as a monk Tavoy Monastery in Rangoon under the name U Dhammaloka. The monastery was aligned with the Thudhamma sect, known for its strict adherence to the Vinaya and social engagement. This gave Dhammaloka an opportunity for both a spiritual rebirth from his alcohol addiction, as well as a connection to the emerging, pan-Asian Buddhist movement. His commitment to the monastic life became a powerful personal and political act.
Dhammaloka’s activism brought him into direct conflict with British authorities. He was placed under surveillance, charged with sedition, and his trial in Rangoon showed his symbolic role in anti-colonial resistance. Despite attempts to suppress him, his legacy endured. Dhammaloka also fiercely opposed Western missionaries, viewing their work as part of colonial domination. He famously said, “The British came with the Bible, the Gatling gun, and the whiskey bottle,” highlighting colonialism's cultural and territorial aims.
Carroll’s journey—from tramp to influential monk—reminds us of courage, solidarity, and the enduring desire for justice.
-
Episode #341: As the military has suffered setbacks in the field, its use of indiscriminate aerial bombing has only increased, taking a deadly toll on civilians and leaving a legacy of trauma for survivors.
In this episode, we take you inside a conversation with resistance artists and researchers who have been working with A New Burma, through their exhibitions in Thailand titled “When We See the Planes.” These events shed light on the tragic effects of air strikes – and people’s refusal to succumb to this campaign of terror. By using art, performance, sound, and storytelling, these exhibitions serve as a beacon to highlight violations of international law and establish a record for transitional justice, while remembering those who have lost their lives.
The events showcase the works of about twenty artists, including frontline Myanmar photographers, put together with the help of Thai curators. “When we do this kind of work, we want to it to be empathy-driven,” says Hnin, the founder of A New Burma. “We want to talk about this topic, not to give knowledge, but to speak to your heart.”
-
Episode #340: Having taught at Payap University in Chiang Mai from 2016–2022, Tony Waters mentored doctoral students grappling with Myanmar’s long history of war, repression, and foreign interference. His students’ pride in their cultures, alongside their questioning of the country’s fragmentation, helped shape his own understanding of Myanmar’s deeper crises and multi-layered history.
One dissertation, exploring Ne Win’s Burmanization policy, particularly influenced his thinking. It traced the policy’s roots to the CIA’s Cold War counterinsurgency training, and its evolution into the Tatmadaw’s brutal Four Cuts strategy. Waters further critiques how America’s anti-Communist strategies, enacted covertly by the CIA, indirectly empowered the expansion of the drug trade.
Waters argues that Myanmar’s ethnic militias are not reflective of any cultural deficiencies, as some outsiders have implied, but rather rational responses to the absence of a stable, inclusive state. He is also sharply critical of the Western aid sector, particularly USAID, for prioritizing donor interests over local needs, and perpetuating cycles of ineffective development. Skeptical of post-coup “political dialogue” initiatives, Waters asserts that the military junta is structurally incapable of genuine negotiation.
Ultimately, he frames Myanmar’s continued suffering as the product of Great Power rivalries, stating that as long as China and the U.S. treat the country as a Cold War playground, real change remains elusive. Waters concludes by stressing the nuance required to better understand and engage in Myanmar, “I'm not looking for good and evil, I'm [just] looking for the story and trying to understand the processes.”
-
Episode #339: Aung, a full-time journalist and women’s rights activist, sheds light on the many hardships Myanmar’s journalists now face both operating from within and without the country following the 2021 coup and the all-important issue of gender equality in the field.
Reflecting back on the transition period, Aung laments that despite the modest advancements made in women’s rights and gender equality, the military coup has undone these gains. Now, confronted with unprecedented challenges, she and her colleagues are tirelessly working through various organizations and initiatives to expose the pervasive gender discrimination and violence that persist in newsrooms.
Their efforts also focus on creating networks that enable affected female journalists to connect, share experiences, and address these critical issues collectively. Pushing back against those voices that suggest these concerns should be addressed only after the junta is toppled, Aung insists this is partand parcel of the current revolution’s objectives. Her story gives an inside look at the obstacles and absurdities that Burmese female journalists are made to confront unduly.
In closing, sheinsists that their fight for equality is not code for establishing a new matriarchy; instead, she imagines a world where men and women share the workspace evenly.“Personally,” she attests, “I do not want us exercising some form of dominance over our male colleagues. When we think about our organization’s structure, we think, ‘We will need to include their perspectives as well.”
-
Episode #338: “[The quake] revealed the tragic disconnect between the government's understanding—or perhaps, willingness to communicate—the severity of the disaster and the actual level of risk facing the population.”
In a compelling analysis, Professor Dean Kyne critiques Myanmar’s disaster management, highlighting how decades of military rule have prioritized authoritarian control over public welfare. He illustrates this with the 2008 Cyclone Nargis, when the junta ignored early warnings and downplayed the storm to proceed with a constitutional referendum ... and over 138,000 people died.
Kyne argues that instead of learning from this tragedy, the regime has doubled down, now weaponizing disaster response. Following the recent earthquake, search and rescue was blocked, aid was withheld, and military authorities even prevented international teams from entering. Humanitarian responder Kiran Verma, for instance, was stopped at gunpoint. “This wasn’t logistical failure,” Kyne says, “it was humanitarian suppression under authoritarian rule.” He notes that corruption further undermines aid distribution: local junta-aligned leaders steal and resell aid. Worse, young male relief volunteers are reportedly being forcibly recruited, and legitimate aid workers face harassment from pro-junta paramilitaries.
Kyne proposes a three-part framework for international response: pragmatic, political, and moral. He urges aid agencies to bypass the junta, work through opposition-held zones, and commit to long-term recovery. Community resilience, he emphasizes, can start with education alone—empowering locals through training and digital platforms.
He closes with a message of solidarity: “To the people in Myanmar, you have to be very strong. And for the international community members, please continue with what you have been doing, and please support the affected individuals.”
-
Episode #337: U Jagara's journey is characterized by a deep commitment to spiritual practice, resilience, and the pursuit of authenticity. Growing up in a small town in Quebec, his early life was marked by a desire to find meaning beyond the material world. Inspired by his brother, U Jagara took his first vipassana meditation course with S.N. Goenka, and eventually traveled to Europe, India, and Burma, where he ordained as a monk under Mahasi Sayadaw. He persevered in this endeavor despite the challenges posed by cultural differences and an unstable, political climate.
Visa issues forced U Jagara to leave Burma, prompting him to continue his monastic journey in Sri Lanka. There, U he lived a simple ascetic lifestyle, re-incorporating the Goenka meditation method into his practice as he also ventured to India for long retreats, and spending time in isolated, mountain hermitages. He emphasizes the importance of embodying spiritual principles in all aspects of daily life, not just during formal meditation sessions.
After 15 years, U Jagara took a break from monastic life, moving to France where he disrobed, lived a lay lifestyle, and fell in love. This phase offered insights into attachment, intimacy, and the balance between worldly and spiritual commitments. Eventually, Burma's reopening led him back; he re-ordained, focusing on cultivating advanced meditative states at Pa Auk Monastery.
A key theme throughout his journey is balancing structure and freedom in spiritual practice. U Jagara stresses the importance of critical inquiry and creativity, cautioning against rigid attachment to any one tradition. He acknowledges the human vulnerabilities of monks, advocating for a realistic understanding of spiritual life. His story encourages embracing both discipline and freedom, while maintaining an urgency to pursue true liberation—a journey that requires resilience, openness, and a willingness to question and adapt.
As U Jagara puts it, “Sometimes we need a slap from reality that helps us to wake up to the fact that we are going to die, and that the sickness and all these things are just part of our existence. When we are aware of that, then we will keep that kind of eagerness just to keep our life in that direction. It's a sense of urgency, saṃvega, that dimension in Buddhism.”
-
Episode #336: “We just want war to end.”
With this blunt declaration, Malaysian MP Wong Chen encapsulates his call for ASEAN to play a constructive role in resolving Myanmar’s civil war. Speaking from Bangkok, Wong outlines Malaysia’s two-pronged approach during its ASEAN chairmanship: first, cutting off weapons, revenue, and logistical support to both the junta and resistance forces to pressure them toward negotiation; and second, leveraging Malaysia’s strong ties with China to push for a peaceful resolution before the chair rotates to the Philippines, who does not have as good a relationship with the regional giant.
While personally critical of the junta, Wong insists Malaysia must act as a neutral facilitator to be effective. He proposes appointing Thailand’s military, which has close ties with both the SAC and resistance groups, as ASEAN’s long-term adviser on Myanmar. Wong also supports a temporary halt in arms and trade, particularly in jade and rare earths, as a way to weaken the junta’s war economy and force it to the table. For Myanmar’s ethnic armed groups, he urges reframing dialogue around economic incentives and a federalist model. Regarding the NUG’s possible participation in such talks and beyond, Wong expresses sympathy for the organization, but critiques its lack of military presence, leadership clarity, and funding. He warns it could be sidelined in future negotiations unless it reorganizes.
Wong is sharply critical of ASEAN, blaming a lack of political will and calling for a dedicated ASEAN parliamentary body to lead on issues like Myanmar. Though he doubts quick results, he urges bold steps now and insists, “We cannot give up.”
-
Episode #335: “It was super hard to cope with.” That’s how Mia Kruska, a German researcher and policy advisor with the Green Party in Berlin, describes learning about the devastating earthquake that recently struck Myanmar. Mia has cultivated personal, academic, and professional ties to the country over the past decade. Her connection began with a backpacking trip in 2014 that evolved into her academic career. She also served as board chair of the Myanmar Institut in Germany and currently works on Southeast Asia policy issues.
When the earthquake hit, after checking in on her friends in Myanmar and along the Thai border, she was overwhelmed by emotion and helplessness. But rather than simply repost traumatic images, she turned to a lesson from her early time in Myanmar: Burmese generosity. She recalls, “You have to be thankful for giving,” and used this insight to encourage meaningful, grassroots donations.
Mia challenges Western narratives that cast Myanmar as mainly a victim. She emphasizes the resilience and reciprocity of its people—both within the country and in exile. She also reflects critically on the ethical responsibilities of Western researchers, highlighting the importance of acknowledging privilege and subjective bias, and the willingness to engage with humility in collaborative endeavors.
Her message to fellow allies is clear: show empathy, offer material support, and don’t be deterred by complexity. “Even ten euros make a little difference,” she says. Ultimately, despite the many challenges, Mia concludes with an enduring sentiment: “I still have hope.”
-
Episode #334: James Rodehaver, head of the UN Human Rights Office on Myanmar, describes the aftermath of the country’s recent earthquake as a crisis layered upon crises. With communities already devastated by a brutal military regime, the natural disaster has only intensified their suffering. Yet instead of pausing hostilities, the military launched over 100 attacks in just nine days—many targeting rescue efforts and civilians. Consistent with a long-standing pattern, the junta has weaponized aid, restricting access to opposition-held areas and rebranding the disaster to channel relief only to zones it controls. The military‘s strategy appears deliberately cruel. Notably, paramotors—silent man-powered gliders used to drop explosives—have struck rescue workers and survivors. Despite a declared ceasefire, attacks continue, reinforcing the military’s aim to break morale in opposition areas.
As a result, the humanitarian response has been severely hampered. Adding to this, civil society had already been gutted by years of conscription, repression, and exile, so now, the only ones digging through the rubble are poorly equipped civilians, often under threat of violence or forced labor. Rodehaver notes that even informal relief efforts are becoming increasingly difficult.
Rodehaver calls for a coordinated international political push, and a unified resistance front. He envisions a broad platform where anti-junta groups can articulate shared goals. Only through trust, coordination, and outside pressure, he argues, can progress be made. Closing with a personal note, he honors those inside Myanmar: “Their courage and unflappable will to keep on resisting tyranny ... has been inspirational.”
-
Episode #333: “The challenging times that we are facing reveal more than what we should do—they reveal who we should be.”
So says Jeshua Soh, a Singaporean entrepreneur who has built a life in Myanmar grounded in long-term commitment, creativity, and service. Calling himself a contrarian in his life and business choices, he was first drawn to the country after a teenage-year visit in 2012; his connection to the country strengthened through volunteer work and friendships. To solve problems of hiring in his field, video production, where global freelancers and Singaporeans alike frequently left his employ for more lucrative gigs, he decided to take a chance and open a Yangon office for his company, building on his feeling of connection to the country. It worked. His Burmese team proved remarkably loyal; soon, other startups asked to place staff with him because of his success and growing expertise in the Myanmar business climate. This led to the launch of Crosswork, an HR-as-a-service platform that now supports over 120 employees.
Alongside running his business, Jeshua launched a storytelling campaign to counter Myanmar’s negative global image and highlight the country’s culture, people, and potential. He has also taken on humanitarian initiatives, including cycling from Singapore and walking 500 kilometers from Bangkok to raise over 150,000 SGD for the Mae Tao Clinic. Just minutes after completing the walk, a powerful earthquake struck central Myanmar, prompting Jeshua and his team to quickly mobilize and lead extensive relief efforts.
A core concern for Jeshua is Myanmar’s brain drain. He urges those who’ve left not to give up on returning, warning that international aid alone can’t substitute for skilled citizens who help rebuild. While he acknowledges safety concerns and doesn’t romanticize the country’s challenges, Jeshua believes in choosing action over paralysis. “I’m swinging for the fences,” he says. “And I think that there is value in a bit of contrarian thinking. Usually, it starts off something like a crazy idea—[that is] until more people start following!”
-
Episode #332: “We should do something to change, or we should have [an] alternative way to do something,” says Lily, a Myanmar-based artist and documentary filmmaker who has turned from observer to humanitarian in the aftermath of Myanmar’s devastating earthquake.
Originally intending to document the destruction in the Sagaing region, Lily quickly shifted focus confronted by the chaos on the ground. Filming became too risky due to military surveillance, and the humanitarian need was overwhelming. She began working alongside monks and volunteers, distributing aid and conducting needs assessments. Traumatized survivors, collapsed buildings, and the scent of death painted a grim picture. Yet what struck Lily most was the spontaneous community response in the absence of government leadership—monasteries, mosques, and local volunteers self-organized to help.
Lily emphasizes the importance of asking communities directly what they need, even when survivors are too disoriented to fully articulate it. She believes that showing care and listening is a powerful act in itself. However, she’s concerned about inefficient donations and the sustainability of relief once panic subsides. Memories of Cyclone Nargis, when military corruption diverted aid, still haunt locals, making many donors wary of formal channels. Though international support has been modest, mostly through grassroots networks, Lily stresses that solidarity—not pity—is essential.
This experience has changed her: no longer just documenting from a distance, she is immersed in the rebuilding process. “If we have some intention—to change or to transform or to rebuild or to reconnect—we have some direction… That’s, I think, what I’m doing.”
-
Episode #331: “My friend told me it is like the crumbling of the world, because everywhere, everywhere is destruction.”
Burmese Buddhist nun Sayalay (who has chosen not to give her full Pāḷi name for safety concerns) speaks about the humanitarian crisis following the devastating earthquake in central Myanmar. Focusing on the country’s spiritual heartland, the Sagaing Hills, home to centuries-old monasteries and nunneries, she describes how the region was hit hard, with monks and nuns killed, buildings collapsed, and survivors left without clean water, shelter, or medical aid. Critical infrastructure, including bridges connecting Sagaing to Mandalay, was badly damaged, delaying relief. Junta restrictions further obstructed rescue efforts, blocking aid and forbidding the use of essential heavy machinery.
It's mainly volunteers who are working rescue operations, but they are severely limited as to what they can use because of the junta’s paranoia; even basic tools are sometimes confiscated. Hiring machinery to clear rubble costs more than many nunneries can afford, yet without it, decomposing bodies pose serious health risks. Survivors, especially young nuns, suffer from trauma and nightmares. Some speak of visitations from the dead, pleading for help from beneath the rubble.
Sayalay, a former nurse, is coordinating aid through her nonprofit, Metta Stream Foundation, and stresses the importance of spiritual action. “When we practice mettā bhavana, it’s not only for us to recite…but we need to do it physically.” Her message is one of compassion, resilience, and a call for global solidarity with those suffering in Myanmar.
-
Episode #330: “When President Bush called that morning and said, ‘Pull back [away from Myanmar],’ I just couldn't compose myself. I broke down in front of all the Marines, and so I had to run into the bathroom and I just cried and cried,” says Mie Mie Winn Byrd. “I knew we had all the capability to help them, to relieve suffering and provide aid, but there was nothing I could do.”
In a powerful and emotional reflection, retired U.S. Army Lt. Col. Mie Mie Winn Byrd recounts her role in Operation Caring Response, a U.S. humanitarian relief mission following Cyclone Nargis in 2008, which killed over 135,000 and displaced millions. Born in Burma, Byrd brought vital regional expertise to the U.S. effort. Yet despite American readiness to help, Myanmar’s military regime blocked aid access, allowing only limited deliveries of critical supplies, which it then left to rot on—or disappear from—the tarmac.
Byrd draws clear and direct parallels between Cyclone Nargis and the recent earthquake in Myanmar, underscoring the military’s pattern of paranoia, cruelty and obstruction. Byrd calls the junta not a legitimate government, or even a legitimate army, but rather a Mafia-like, organized crime syndicate.
In contrast, she finds inspiration in Myanmar’s civil society and diaspora, whose grassroots response has saved lives despite immense hardship. She urges international donors to bypass the military and support trusted, local actors: “They open up their hearts, their purse, and [are] doing it again.”
-
Episode #329: “How could this happen now?! I mean, are we part of the problem allowing Burma to slip to that ‘ninth layer of hell?’”
These anguished words from longtime USAID official Chris Milligan reflect his heartbreak over the U.S. failure to adequately respond to Myanmar’s devastating 7.7 magnitude earthquake. Milligan, who helped reopen USAID’s Myanmar mission in 2012, recalls building it from scratch as part of a broader U.S. strategy to support democratic and economic reforms without legitimizing the military regime.
Regarding the landscape of development aid for Burma, he explains it is “a land of good intentions with unintended consequences," where uninformed international aid could easily do more harm than good. Still, his years there were deeply fulfilling. He saw rapid progress and strong partnerships, though he regrets being unable to help resolve the humanitarian crisis in Rakhine State.
Milligan underscores USAID’s value—not just abroad, but at home—calling it essential for American interests, stability, trade, and global influence. He contrasts the U.S. model of development with China’s state-centric approach, warning that American withdrawal leaves a dangerous vacuum. So he bemoans the Trump administration ‘s dismantling the core of the agency. USAID once led major disaster responses, but due to those massive program cuts, its Myanmar earthquake response resulted in snding just three people and $2 million. He fears that unless the U.S. re-engages, the long-term consequences will be dire.
Milligan looks back very fondly on his time in the country, especially the warmth and generosity of its people. “That’s why it was also inspiring,” he says. “It made you want to work harder to support them… because they saw a brighter future for themselves, and you wanted to help them get there.”
Consider a donation to support our Earthquake Emergency Fund!
- Mostrar mais
