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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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

With Joseph Young, Daily Briefing newsletter writer for Frontier Myanmar. This week on episode 54 of What's Happening in Myanmar, the Karen National Liberation Army takes another border town, the Philippines announces its 2026 ASEAN special envoy on Myanmar, the military raids the Shwe Kokko scam compound, and we talk about China's influence on northern Shan State and what's behind the military's moves in Myawaddy.

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Timecodes—

(00:00) Opening

(01:16) Election violence hits Yangon

(03:21) New ASEAN special envoy to Myanmar

(04:13) KNLA takes Maw Taung & military Magway rampage

(06:22) With Joseph Young, the scam raids & updates

(21:00) China's peace deals & Mogok

(31:35) Close

Our guests—

Joseph Young, Daily Briefing newsletter writer at Frontier Myanmar

New original content on the Frontier website:

Refugee plan out to sea: Bangladesh closes Rohingya island to new arrivals

With Khin Hnin Phyu Soe, freelance journalist. This week on episode 53 of What's Happening in Myanmar, the US steps up its fight against scams in Southeast Asia as the regime continues its demolitions at KK Park, another Rohingya boat tragedy occurs, the military kills over 20 civilians in its attacks around the country, and we discuss the increase in underage girls marrying to avoid conscription.

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Timecodes—

(00:00) Opening

(00:59) U.S. anti-scam task force and KK park in limbo

(04:30) Rohingya boat tragedy off Langkawi

(05:52) Conflict updates and civilian deaths

(09:05) With Khin Hnin Phyu Soe, underage marriage

(14:05) Options for avoiding conscription

(27:27) Close

Our guests—

Khin Hnin Phyu Soe, freelance journalist.

Early to wed: Myanmar girls marry to avoid military service

New original content on the Frontier website:

PR ploy: Junta scam centre raid changes little

Further referenced this episode:

Junta struggles to regain territory ahead of election push

With Laur Kiik, Burma studies researcher and postdoctoral fellow at the University of Oslo. This week on episode 52 of What's Happening in Myanmar, the military detains civilians for supposedly criticising its so-called elections, the fallout from demolitions at KK Park scam compound increases, and we discuss livelihoods at the Myitsone confluence in Kachin State—including the likelihood of the Myitsone dam hydropower project being resumed.

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Timecodes—

(00:00) Opening

(01:02) KK park demolition fallout

(02:36) Military advances and Mogok in suspension

(04:20) Detention of election "critics"

(05:58) With Laur Kiik, Myitsone suspension

(13:26) Myitsone villages

(28:53) Gold mining at Myitsone

(38:28) Close

Our guests—

Laur Kiik, Burma Studies researcher and postdoctoral fellow at the University of Oslo.

Rural resistance under a golden dictatorship, part 1:

the Myitsone villages

Rural resistance under a golden dictatorship, part 2: the

suspended villages

New original content on the Frontier website:

'Living in fear of the sky': Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh battle environmental crisis

Further referenced this episode:

Hkyet Hting Nan: 'One day we will have a Kachin president'

With Aung Khant, coordinator of the Myanmar Freedom of Religion or Belief Network. This week on episode 51 of What's Happening in Myanmar, ASEAN dithers once again, the military's UEC announces more election updates, the Ta'ang National Liberation Army signs a ceasefire ceding Mogok and Mongmit to the military, and we discuss religious freedom in Myanmar since the 2021 coup.

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Timecodes—

(00:00) Opening

(01:45) ASEAN summit leads nowhere

(02:24) Election updates

(06:11) Ta'ang National Liberation Army ceasefire

(08:28) With Aung Khant, religious freedom in Myanmar

(18:20) FoRB Network Myanmar's report

(28:17) Religion in Myanmar, and ethnicity

(33:18) Muslim suffering after Sagaing earthquake

Our guests—

Aung Khant, Coordinator of the Myanmar Freedom of Religion or Belief Network

New original content on the Frontier website:

Early to wed: Myanmar girls marry to avoid military service

Searching for solutions for the Rohingya

Further referenced this episode:

After 29 years, RFA is on pause

Freedom House Myanmar 2025

Myanmar's Generals Step into Politics as Newly Minted Civilians

With Hunter Marston, adjunct fellow at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. This week on episode 50 of What's Happening in Myanmar, the UEC announces election campaigning restrictions, SpaceX cuts off Starlink for scammers, and we discuss the upcoming ASEAN summit scheduled for this weekend, U.S. and Chinese policy on Myanmar, and more.

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Timecodes—

01m08s :: News round up, union members freed01m52s :: UEC restricts in-person election campaigning03m29s :: Scam raids, Starlink cut08m18s :: With Hunter Marson, China policy on Myanmar20m05s :: 47th ASEAN summit41m10s :: Close

Our guests—

Hunter Marston, adjunct fellow (non-resident), Southeast Asia Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, and adjunct fellow with La Trobe Asia.

New original content on the Frontier website:

'The ending is already known': USDP gets head start on election campaign

Further referenced this episode:

Supporting Myanmar Beyond the 'ASEAN Way'

With Jacob Sims, visiting fellow at Harvard University's Asia Centre. This week on episode 49 of What's Happening in Myanmar, election campaign updates and voter list concerns, the military retakes Hsipaw, and we discuss human trafficking and the fallout of the scam crackdown from earlier this year.

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Timecodes—

01m10s :: Election updates 04m07s :: Nat Yay Kan lost to AA 05m02s :: PDF prison breakout in Hakha 05m46s :: Hsipaw lost to the military 07m20s :: With Jacob Sims, TIP human trafficking report 18m55s :: Scams since the crackdown 23m48s :: Indictment of Chen Zhi 33m03s :: Income generation and substitution after the scams 40m05s :: Close

Our guests—

Jacob Sims, visiting fellow at Harvard University's Asia Centre and expert on organised crime in Southeast Asia

Two paths to the bottom: When states become sponsors of human trafficking

New original content on the Frontier website:

'I don't know what comes next': US visa ban quashes Myanmar students' dreams Women in central Myanmar struggle with low wages

Further referenced this episode:

Myanmar scam cities booming despite crackdown – using Musk's Starlink