Burmese political culture - general
Websites/Multiple Documents
Description:
High quality, hard-hitting. See also the cartoons on "The Irrawaddy"
Harn Lay
Source/publisher:
Shanland
Date of entry/update:
2010-12-15
Grouping:
Websites/Multiple Documents
Category:
Burmese humour -- Cartoons, Burmese political culture - general, Village and urban resistance
Language:
English
more
Individual Documents
Sub-title:
Monk Kaythara goes from preaching not to kill to learning how to kill.
Description:
"A Buddhist monk has undergone armed training to fight with the popular resistance against the military junta in Myanmar, giving up his vows against killing in response to the deaths of peaceful protesters.
Former monk Kaythara, who now goes by the name George Michael, left the monkhood and took up arms in response to the arrests and killings of fellow monks who joined protests against the military regime that overthrew the elected government in February.
Kaythara, 33, became a monk when he was 20 years old and had been involved in humanitarian work. He served as head monk of the Dhamma Darna monastery in Hlaingthaya township, an area dominated by garment factories on the outskirts of Yangon, where he oversaw an orphanage.
In the early days of the military coup, Kaythara said he had actively participated in peaceful protest marches.
“We’ve been organizing the protests in Hlaingthaya since Feb. 6,” he told RFA in an interview. “Since then, we marched on the streets to protest every day until Feb. 14 when the authorities begin to crack down on the protests.”
A violent suppression of protesters by security forces that day left more than 60 people dead. Many residents, including thousands of factory workers, fled the area, which authorities placed under martial law.
Kaythara was not among the protestors that day because he went into hiding after authorities issued an arrest warrant for him. During his time in hiding, his mother died, but he wasn’t able to attend her funeral.
Kaythara said he later learned that many fellow protestors had been killed during the crackdown, the event that prompted him to join the popular armed rebellion against the military junta.
“We had resisted the military council’s rule peacefully, without even bearing a single needle, but after I learned about the forces shooting down fellow protestors, I changed my mind,” he said. “I decided to join the armed training when I arrived in this ‘liberated area.’”
Liberated area is a general term used in Myanmar to refer to territory unpenetrated by the Myanmar junta’s rule, including rebel-controlled ethnic areas along the borders of Thailand, India, and China.
“We were required to refrain from killing when we were Buddhist monks, but now we are in training to kill,” he said.
Buddhist monk Kaythara participates in a peaceful protest against Myanmar's military junta in Yangon in an undated photo. Photo courtesy of Kaythara
Authorities in the liberated area where Kaythara went for military training argued against his participation because he was a veteran monk. But they eventually relented, and he began training with an ethnic armed group in a location he declined to disclose for fear of endangering other soldiers.
“I remained a monk for 13 years,” Kaythara said. “I am still using the pronouns designated for monks. I remind myself I am no longer a monk and that I am a soldier now, so I try to eat and live like other soldiers do.”
Now that he has completed his military training, Kaythara is a ranking officer, though he said he is reluctant to confront Myanmar soldiers in battle because of his previous religious vow not to kill.
“I wonder if I am really capable of killing someone in battle,” he said. “I used to preventing others from killing, let alone killing someone myself, but now I am required to eliminate them as a soldier.”
Kaythara said he would have remained a monk had the military coup not occurred.
“I had an ambition to establish a Buddhist university,” he said. “I wanted to build a three-story facility. I aimed to build something as big as a landmark for Buddhists. This was my dream, but now it’s been destroyed.”
Other monks contacted Kaythara after they saw online photos of him in his military uniform, he said, but added that he doesn’t want them to follow in his footsteps.
“Although the armed rebellion is essential for this revolution, there are many things we can do as Buddhist monks,” he said. “I want to appeal to other Buddhist monks not to give up the monkhood to join the armed forces. There are many other ways you can help by remaining as a monk inside the country.”
At least 18 monks have been arrested by security forces for participating in protests since the Feb. 1 coup, according to the Dhamma and Peace Foundation, an online group set up in 2019 by prominent domestic and international Buddhist monks.
More than 860 people have been killed by the junta, and 4,480 remain in detention since the coup, according to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners, a Thailand-based monitoring group and NGO..."
Source/publisher:
"RFA" (USA)
Date of publication:
2021-06-15
Date of entry/update:
2021-06-17
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Category:
Burmese political culture - general, Anti-coup protesters, Political prisoners and other violations in Burma - reports, Right to Life: reports of violations in Burma, 2021 Burma/Myanmar coup d'état
Language:
more
Description:
"Kaythara took up arms against the military regime in response to the arrests and killings of fellow monks who joined anti-coup protests..."
Source/publisher:
"RFA" (USA)
Date of publication:
2021-06-16
Date of entry/update:
2021-06-17
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Language:
more
Description:
"Myanmar offers an impressive blend of culture and modern life. Unique music, dance, exciting festivals, delicious food, and beautiful traditional crafts along the cities bustling with activities define the way of life in this exciting and unexplored South Asian country.
Myanmar has been at the cultural crossroads of Asia where amalgamation of ideas went hand in hand with exchange of material, giving rise to a distinctive cultural identity to the country. Buddhism, with its origin in India, found its way into Myanmar in the 1st Century CE and blended well with pre-existing non-Buddhist beliefs. The splendid architecture and sculpture of Myanmar’s numerous temples and monasteries, notably those at Yangon, Mandalay, and Bagan, the site of the ancient kingdom of west-central Myanmar, bears the testimony of Myanmar’s cultural richness, that has been surprisingly preserved in its pristine form even today. Among Myanmar’s most prominent cultural institutions are the state schools of dance, music, drama, and fine arts at Yangon and Mandalay, as well as the National Museum of Art and Archaeology at Yangon. There also is an archaeological museum at Pagan. A number of other museums focus on state and regional history..."
Source/publisher:
"Elets News Network"
Date of publication:
2020-03-05
Date of entry/update:
2020-03-06
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Category:
Society and Culture, global - general studies, Burmese political culture - general, Arts - general
Language:
more
Sub-title:
Italian couple’s footage against backdrop of Myanmar’s ‘holy land’ provokes outrage
Description:
"Outrage is growing in Myanmar after the emergence of a 12-minute pornographic video shot in Bagan, the country’s best-known tourist spot and Unesco heritage site featuring thousands of revered Buddhist pagodas.
The video was posted on PornHub by users who described themselves as a 23-year-old Italian couple.
The couple’s naked antics against the backdrop of one of Bagan’s ancient pagodas have provoked an angry reaction in Myanmar, with condemnation spreading online.
“Our Bagan pagodas are the Holy Land,” wrote Mg Khin Gyi on Facebook with multiple angry emojis.
The video had been viewed nearly a quarter of a million times by Thursday evening – but had registered twice as many dislikes as likes.
The managing director of New Fantastic Asia tour company, Tun Tun Naing, questioned what seemed to be “negligent” security at Bagan and called for action.
Myo Yee, the Mandalay chairman of the Union of Myanmar Travel Association, added his voice to the rising clamour, saying the case was bad news for an industry hit hard by the coronavirus outbreak..."
Source/publisher:
"Agence France-Presse (AFP)" (France) via "The Guardian" (UK)
Date of publication:
2020-02-13
Date of entry/update:
2020-02-14
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Category:
Society and Culture, Burma/Myanmar - general studies, Burmese political culture - general, Society and Culture, global - general studies
Language:
more
Sub-title:
In a message ahead of Myanmar’s general election in 2020, Cardinal Bo reminds fellow citizens that voting is a sacred duty. While calling for defending democracy and human rights, he also addresses other challenges facing the nation.
Description:
"Myanmar’s prominent Catholic Church leader has appealed to the government to scrap the constitutional provision which prohibits members of religious orders from voting in elections.
Cardinal Charles Bo lamented Article 392(a) of the constitution that prohibits Buddhist monks and nuns, Catholic priests, nuns and religious, other Christian clergy, Muslim clerics and others from the right to vote.
In a written appeal released on Thursday, Archbishop of Yangon appealed to the government of Myanmar to change.
Voting, a “Sacred duty”
“As a cardinal, I can make statements and speeches and encourage citizens to vote,” he said but pointed to the irony that he himself is “barred from voting”. “This is an extremely unusual arrangement. I am not aware of any other democracy in which this is a requirement,” he said.
Cardinal Bo’s statement comes in view of the general elections, expected in late 2020, as the Southeast Asian nation is in transition to democracy after decades of military rule.
Describing voting as “a sacred duty” and “a sacred pilgrimage of human dignity” of the people of Myanmar, he warned that “those who shirk this sacred responsibility do at their own peril”.
For the people of Myanmar, he said, voting is “a sacred pilgrimage in this golden land to strengthen their human dignity and common good”.
Cardinal Bo, who is also president of the Confederation of Asian Bishops’ Conferences (FABC), said that as a religious leader, it was not his duty to identify parties or leaders to support..."
Source/publisher:
"Vatican News"
Date of publication:
2020-02-06
Date of entry/update:
2020-02-07
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Category:
The 2020 General Elections in Burma/Myanmar, Politics, Government and Governance - Burma/Myanmar - general studies, Burmese political culture - general
Language:
more
Sub-title:
Standing next to the Second Vice-President Henry Van Thio, himself an ethnic Chin, the State Counselor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi gave an inspiring speech on February 1 at Kyaik Ka San Road, to officially open the Myanmar Ethnic Culture Festival to the public.
Description:
"The Myanmar Ethnic Cultures Festival is back in town, with participants from 14 regions across the country entertaining audiences in the first week of February. This year the festival will be organised by people from the Kayah community, according to U Min Banyar San, general secretary of the National Business Association.
“Last year, the festival was led by Kachin people. This year, Kayah people are assigned to lead the celebrations. About one million people visited last year’s festival, enjoying music, food and fashion from a variety of different Kachin groups,” he said. Though the festival promises to deliver the same level of community engagement, U Min Banyar San worried that not as many people would show interest this year – given that the numbers of visitors to the grounds were down.
A total of 1,500 Kayah dancers will perform the Tagundaing dance, said U Tayzar Win Tun, secretary of the Kayah Business Association. It’s also an opportunity to showcase the clothes, food and artifacts of Kayah people, he added. “The dancers have been performing for many months, and they have already arrived in Yangon for the festival. It’s a great opportunity for people to learn more about the rich history of the Kayah,” he said.
The festival will also include exhibition booths, where people can see artifacts and read information about the 14 ethnic groups, as well as talk to many Kayah people in person. “Visitors will be able to see the traditional costumes on show, enjoy the handicrafts and enjoy all the food too,” said a member of the organising committee..."
Source/publisher:
"Myanmar Times" (Myanmar)
Date of publication:
2020-02-03
Date of entry/update:
2020-02-03
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Category:
Society and Culture, Burma/Myanmar - general studies, Arts - general, Burmese political culture - general
Language:
more
Description:
"An ethnics culture festival kicked off in Yangon on Saturday, with the participation of varieties of ethnic groups from across Myanmar.
This year's festival was themed Myanmar Ethnics Culture Fest, which is the second time of the kind, is jointly organized by the Myanmar Ethnic Entrepreneurs' Association and Kayah State Ethnic Entrepreneurs' Association.
Myanmar State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi told the opening ceremony that holding such festival which gathers all colorful ethnic groups could support the development of the ethnic nationals.
Suu Kyi also urged the ethnic nationals to achieve peace by lending a helping hand to and sharing mutual respect and love with each other.
"Diversity of culture, tradition and cuisines of different ethnic groups residing across Myanmar could attract not only locals but also foreign tourists," said Vice President Henry Van Thio, calling for promotion of services including tourism and further efforts to penetrate international market with locally produced value-added products..."
Source/publisher:
"Xinhua" (China)
Date of publication:
2020-02-01
Date of entry/update:
2020-02-02
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Language:
more
Sub-title:
Nearly a decade ago, Myanmar threw off its military dictatorship. But what has happened since is troubling
Description:
"When Thant Myint-U was eight he travelled from the US to Burma with his parents to bury his grandfather U Thant, the first non-European secretary general of the United Nations. But the funeral was not a family affair. A group of students and Buddhist monks seized Thant’s coffin and demanded a state ceremony from the country’s military overlords: the corpse became a rallying point for protests. Burmese troops overran the Rangoon University campus where Thant’s body had been held and killed many protesting students. Riots broke out against the army regime and hundreds were killed or imprisoned in the retaliatory crackdown. Myint-U’s parents were told to leave the country quickly. “I missed my fourth-grade classes,” Myint-U writes in The Hidden History of Burma, and instead “experienced firsthand a dictatorship in action”. Starker encounters followed over the years. After graduating from Harvard in 1988, Myint-U helped a group of Burmese dissidents who were planning a revolution from across the Thai border. As a historian, human rights campaigner and UN policy planner, he advocated for the brutally suppressed Burmese democracy movement through the 1990s and 2000s, while remaining undecided on the usefulness of economic sanctions. In the wake of Cyclone Nargis, he worked to convince the country’s generals to accept international aid and address the country’s abysmal poverty rates. After the dissolution of the junta in 2011, Myint-U was made an adviser in the Burmese president’s office..."
Source/publisher:
"The Guardian" (UK)
Date of publication:
2020-01-15
Date of entry/update:
2020-01-16
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Category:
Burmese History Book Reviews, Burma's ethnic opposition, Politics, Government and Governance - Burma/Myanmar - general studies, Burmese political culture - general
Language:
more
Description:
"Wa Ale Resort in Myanmar’s remote Mergui Archipelago looks ahead to a year of environmentally sensitive expansion. When the owners of Wa Ale, Chris and Farina Kingsley, embarked on this island resort’s creation they first put in place a number of conservation and community initiatives. These were all brought together under one umbrella with the creation of the Lampi Foundation to ensure the eco resort could have a positive impact on the protected surroundings.
Wa Ale lies within the remote Mergui, or Myeik as it’s also known, archipelago off southernmost Myanmar and Thailand’s Andaman Coast. This isolated island and its pristine surroundings area are all a part of Lampi Marine National Park. When the Kingsleys leased this island from Myanmar’s forestry department it was under the condition that they would be giving back to the local people and environment through eco-tourism..."
Source/publisher:
"Forbes" (USA)
Date of publication:
2020-01-02
Date of entry/update:
2020-01-06
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Category:
Tourism in Burma - articles and studies, Sustainable/ethical/responsible tourism (Burma/Myanmar), Burmese political culture - general
Language:
more
Description:
"...Book Contents:Journal of an Excursion in the Mishmee Mountains, Tea localities in the Muttock Districts, Upper Assam, Journey from Upper Assam towards Hookum, Journey from Hookum to Ava, Botanical Notes written in pencil, connected with the foregoing Chapter, General Report on the foregoing, Notes on descending the Irrawaddi from Ava to Rangoon, written in pencil, Journey towards Assam, Continuation of the same, with Notes on the Distribution of Plants, Journey from Assam into Bootan, with Notes on the Distribution of Plants, Continuation of the Journey in Bootan, Return of the Mission from Bootan, with Meteorological Observations, etc, Journey with the Army of the Indus, from Loodianah to Candahar, Journey from Candahar to Cabul, Journey from Cabul to Bamean—the Helmund and Oxus rivers, Journey from Cabul to Jallalabad and Peshawur, Journey from Peshawur to Pushut, On the Reproductive Organs of Acotyledonous plants, Journey from Pushut to Kuttoor and Barowl in Kaffiristan, and return to Pushut and Cabul, Journey from Cabul to Kohi-Baba, Journey from Peshawur to Lahore, Journey from Lahore to Simla, Barometrical Heights and Latitudes of places visited throughout Afghanistan..."
Source/publisher:
Kham Koo Website
Date of publication:
2005-02-25
Date of entry/update:
2020-01-05
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Category:
Shan history, Burmese political culture - general, Accounts of Burma by travellers, diplomats, merchants, soldiers et al
Language:
Format :
PDF
Size:
1.08 MB
more
Description:
"The life of Robinson Crusoe, or any other castaway for that matter, can’t have been exactly idyllic. The sands may have been golden, the waters azure, the island “delightfully unspoilt” – but what did he do come happy hour?
All of which brings us to the Mergui Archipelago (aka Myeik Kyunzu, aka Maldives sans the masses), on the west coast of Myanmar, which teeters between being 800 mainly uninhabited islands pure and simple, plus some thriving coral reefs, and getting branded – the horror, the horror – “the next big thing”.
One or two resorts have opened up on the islands, balancing their eco credentials with assertions of luxury, and liveaboards still putter about, but otherwise Mergui is one of the few places in Asia that has not succumbed to the homogenisation engendered by mass tourism. The diving is unparalleled, and the sense of isolation untrammelled.
So – assuming this is not blindingly obvious – if there is any time to go, it would be sooner rather than later.
Apart from slurping up the peace, quiet and exclusivity, diving and snorkelling are the obvious recreations, while the Moken (sea gypsies) are tolerant of visitors. Forging a trail through some of the larger islands’ jungles has its Indiana Jones moments..."
Source/publisher:
"South China Morning Post" (Hong Kong)
Date of publication:
2019-04-01
Date of entry/update:
2019-12-01
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Category:
Wetlands (global and regional) description, Tenasserim (Tanintharyi) Division, Moken, Burmese political culture - general
Language:
more
Topic:
Religion, Social Issues
Topic:
Religion, Social Issues
Description:
"A Myanmar court has granted bail to a senior Buddhist monk facing defamation charges for allegedly calling the country’s military thieves and robbers in an interview with a local news and entertainment website.
Bail was approved by the Pyigyiatagon Township Court for Sayadaw U Arriyawuntha, the abbot of Myawaddy Mingyi monastery in Myanmar’s second biggest city Mandalay on Nov. 7.
The monk, who is known for working with interfaith groups, is accused of defaming the military in comments he made to the Yangon-based Khit Thit website in an interview in June
In the interview, he questioned a more than 30 million-kyat (about US$20,000) donation by an army commander to the Dhamma Parahita Foundation.
The foundation was formally known as Ma Ba Tha, an ultranationalist Buddhist group.
The abbot, a strong critic of the military and nationalist monks, told the website that the foundation broke religious rules by taking money from the military, which he said was looking to block democratic reforms.
“That nationalist group is partnering with an organization that is going against the rules of Buddhist monks,” the Irrawaddy news website quoted the monk telling Khit Thit in June.
Calling them thieves and robbers, he also accused the military of making a mockery of democracy by defying laws, intimidating the populace and occupying seats in parliament without having contested an election..."
Source/publisher:
"Eurasia Review"
Date of publication:
2019-08-10
Date of entry/update:
2019-11-10
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Language:
more
Sub-title:
The Directorate of Investment and Company Administration (DICA) and Yangon-based Myanmar Centre for Responsible Business (MCRB) this year launched the “Respecting Myanmar Culture in the Workplace” guide book...
Description:
"Drawn by prominent Myanmar cartoonist Aw Pi Kyeh, the cartoons cover topics such as eating and drinking, dress code, greetings and body language and are designed to highlight the importance of listening to and learning from local people, to help prevent conflict and contribute to commercial success.
“Respect for Myanmar’s many cultures is an important part of promoting equality, combating discrimination and creating a respectful workplace,” said MCRB director Vicky Bowman.
“Minor cultural misunderstandings by foreign company employees can escalate into wider grievances – including with local communities – which can ultimately jeopardise investments. They can also contribute to a less motivated and unproductive workplace,” she added.
The publication seeks to help foreign managers and executives understand Myanmar culture and avoid cross-cultural misunderstandings with local communities. It was authored by the MCRB, in partnership with DICA - which is under the Ministry of Investment and Foreign Economic Relations (MIFER) - and with input from other ministries.
“Responsible investment is respectful investment,” MIFER Minister U Thaung Tun said, referring to the launch of the guidebook. “Respect for diverse cultures and traditions will undoubtedly contribute to the wider goals of our government, including sustainable peace.”
The cartoons primarily focus on building mutual respect and understanding, rather than legal requirements. But the guide makes clear that investors should ensure that they are familiar with Myanmar workplace laws, such as labour, health and safety and environmental protection regulations..."
Source/publisher:
"Myanmar Times" (Myanmar)
Date of publication:
2019-10-11
Date of entry/update:
2019-10-11
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Language:
more
Description:
"In this post on The Interpreter, Andray Abrahamian recently drew attention to the Myanmar government?s decision to name a bridge in southern Mon State after the country?s national hero, Aung San, rather than leave the matter in the hands of the regional authorities. As the post noted, the issue has become a source of tension between the ruling National League for Democracy (NLD) and the local community, one that could easily have been avoided..."
Andrew Selth
Source/publisher:
"Lowy Interpreter"
Date of publication:
2017-03-31
Date of entry/update:
2017-04-28
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Category:
Burmese political culture - general
Language:
English
more
Description:
Abstract: "Women?s
political
participation
and
representation
vary
dramatically
within
and
between
countries.
This
paper
selectively
reviews
the
literature
on
gender
gap
and
women?s
participation
in
politics,
focusing
on
women?s
formal
political
participation
particularly
from
2010
general
election
in
Burma/Myanmar.
The
paper
discusses,
however,
various
barriers
and
challenges
including
traditional,
religion,
lack
of
education,
experience
in
public
discussion,
participation
and
more
importantly
the
military
drafted
2008
constitution
for
women?s
political
participation
and
representation
in
Burma/Myanmar.
It
also
explains
significance
of
women?s
political
participation
as
well
as
the
role
of
international
mechanisms
and
gender
quotas
particularly
the
Convention
on
the
Elimination
of
All
Forms
of
Discrimination
against
Women
(CEDAW)
and
the
Electoral
Quotas
System
for
empowering
women?s
participation
in
politics.
Then,
it
explores
the
gap
between
the
2008
Constitution
and
the
CEDAW
standards.
Throughout
the
review,
the
paper
demonstrates
a
very
low
level
of
women?s
political
participation
from
secondary
data
as
well
as
in-‐depth
interviewed
with
women
parliamentarians
explained
the
challenges
and
difficulties
for
women
participation
in
politics
of
decision-‐making.
It
also
reveals
the
most
common
mechanism
for
increasing
women?s
political
participation-‐quotas
and
in
order
to
have
an
effective
the
gender
electoral
quotas
system
it
is
explicitly
important
both
men
and
women
attend
training
and
skills
development.
Importantly,
the
paper
also
asks
what
degree
and
under
what
conditions
elected
women
actually
do
represent
women
and
contribute
to
gender
equality,
democracy
and
whether
women
are
distinctive—does
having
more
women
in
office
make
a
difference
to
public
policy?".....Paper delivered at the International Conference on Burma/Myanmar Studies: Burma/Myanmar in Transition: Connectivity, Changes and Challenges: University Academic Service Centre (UNISERV), Chiang Mai University, Thailand, 24-26 July 2015.
Sang Hnin Lian
Source/publisher:
International Conference on Burma/Myanmar Studies: Burma/Myanmar in Transition: Connectivity, Changes and Challenges: University Academic Service Centre (UNISERV), Chiang Mai University, Thailand, 24-26 July 2015
Date of publication:
2015-07-26
Date of entry/update:
2015-08-08
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Category:
Articles, reports and sites relating to women of Burma, Burmese political culture - general, Akha (cultural, political, economic), Shan (cultural, historical, political) articles, Akha, Shan, General anthropological literature: politics, society and culture, Education rights: reports of violations in Burma, Women and Child Rights Project, home page, articles and reports, Anthropological literature on ethnicity and identity, Anthropological literature on sex, marriage and kinship, International Conference on Burma/Myanmar Studies (ICBMS) 23-26 July, 2015
Language:
English
Format :
pdf
Size:
180.74 KB
more
Description:
Executive Summary: "This report examines the state of opinion research in Myanmar, identifies challenges, and makes recommendations for improvements. Since the government of Myanmar announced a transition from military rule to democracy in 2010, both domestic and international stakeholders have turned to polling to discover public opinion on a range of issues.
Polling is critical in transitioning countries. Polls can provide parties with data to understand the needs and desires of the electorate and serve as a check on government excesses. They make information on public views widely available and can represent both the diversity of existing opinions and positions of minority populations. Finally, they show a road to political compromise and prepare parties and the public to deal with election outcomes.
The Western public accepts and expects polling on a regular basis, but we did not find that always the case in Myanmar. Although Myanmar has a decades-long history of market surveys, political polling is a relatively new phenomenon. Organizations operating in this field face four major challenges. The first is selecting a sample in a country that lacks reliable census or voter registration data, and lacks comprehensive access to telephones or the internet. The second is how to provide survey questionnaires in several languages to accommodate Myanmar?s numerous ethnic groups. The third challenge relates to interviewers, both to their training and to accounting for possible response bias based on the interaction between the interviewer?s socio-demographic background and the respondent?s. Finally, polling groups and interviewers must ensure respondents? confidentiality.
These problems are not unique to Myanmar. Pollsters around the world regularly grapple with similar dilemmas. What makes their task more challenging in Myanmar is the novelty of polling. Few people (even in civil society and political parties) understand its nature, and many are quick to dismiss the whole exercise when they do not like some of a poll?s results. The report examines and refutes several of their criticisms, perhaps the most common being that a sample, no
matter how large, cannot capture the full diversity of opinions in a country as large and heterogeneous as Myanmar.
It is possible to tackle these misperceptions and improve practices. Our recommendations for immediate actions can be implemented ahead of the parliamentary election this year. They include suggestions on conducting polls, providing frameworks for their interpretation, and training potential users to understand polling data. Long-term change will require consistent attention and investment from polling groups, those who commission them, and users of polling data to strengthen the polling field.
Most importantly, polling organizations should continue making their data publicly available. Those who conduct and commission public surveys need to do so on a regular basis. Both practices will teach the public to see polls as a normal element of a democratic process and become another step in Myanmar?s transition to a full-fledged democracy."
Source/publisher:
Open Society Foundations
Date of publication:
2015-03-00
Date of entry/update:
2015-05-16
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Category:
Burmese political culture - general
Language:
English
Format :
pdf
Size:
375.9 KB
Local URL:
more
Description:
"The general elections in Myanmar planned for late 2015 could mark a major step forward in the political reform process that began in 2011. Despite a high level of mistrust in government, the general public appears to have an overall positive view of elections and overwhelmingly intends to vote.1 Significantly, the government has made a public commitment to inviting international and national election observation organizations to monitor the election process, a notable difference from the 2010 and 2012 elections. The Carter Center, at the invitation of the Union Election Commission (UEC), is conducting an assessment of the pre-election environment in preparation for the deployment of a larger election observation mission. This is the Carter Center?s first statement since deploying staff to the states and regions in December 2014.
In this preliminary assessment, The Carter Center finds that there are efforts underway to make the electoral process more transparent and less vulnerable to manipulation. However, a number of key challenges need to be addressed in order to ensure that the elections earn the confidence of voters, political parties, and civil society organizations. The main findings include:..."
Source/publisher:
The Carter Center
Date of publication:
2015-03-00
Date of entry/update:
2015-05-16
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Language:
English
Format :
pdf
Size:
446.51 KB
more
Description:
"For years, decades even, professional Burma watchers, activists and other commentators have been making assessments about developments in Burma (Myanmar) on the basis of very little hard information. Government statistics could not be trusted, official spokesmen rarely gave away anything of value and the state-run press largely peddled propaganda. Reports generated outside Burma were often highly politicised and had to be treated carefully.
There were some notable exceptions to this rule, but even well-informed analysts tended to refer to Burma as an intelligence black hole..."
Source/publisher:
"The Interpreter"
Date of publication:
2014-12-18
Date of entry/update:
2015-05-03
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Category:
Burmese political culture - general
Language:
English
more
Description:
"Burmese version. A survey to document public knowledge and awareness of new government institutions and processes, and to gauge the political, social, and economic values held by people from diverse backgrounds, to inform the country?s long-term development. The survey included face-to-face interviews with more than 3,000 respondents across all 14 Myanmar states and regions.."
Source/publisher:
Asia Foundation
Date of publication:
2014-12-11
Date of entry/update:
2015-01-05
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Category:
Burmese political culture - general, The 2015 General Elections in Burma/Myanmar, Politics, Government and Governance - Burma/Myanmar - general studies, Dialogue/reform/transition in Burma/Myanmar - analyses and statements
Language:
Burmese/ မြန်မာဘာသာ
Format :
pdf
Size:
13.55 MB
Local URL:
more
Description:
"A survey to document public knowledge and awareness of new government institutions and processes, and to gauge the political, social, and economic values held by people from diverse backgrounds, to inform the country?s long-term development. The survey included face-to-face interviews with more than 3,000 respondents across all 14 Myanmar states and regions."
Source/publisher:
Asia Foundation
Date of publication:
2014-12-00
Date of entry/update:
2015-01-05
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Category:
Politics, Government and Governance - Burma/Myanmar - general studies, Burmese political culture - general, Dialogue/reform/transition in Burma/Myanmar - analyses and statements, The 2015 General Elections in Burma/Myanmar
Language:
English
Format :
pdf
Size:
1.39 MB
Local URL:
more
Description:
This is a speech of Wi Du Ya Thakhin Chit Maung on the 44th anniversary of Union Day (12 February 1991)... (၄၄) ကြိမ်မြောက်ပြည်ထောင်စုနေ့ (၁၂-၂-၉၁)၊ အမျိုးသား ပြန်လည်တည်ဆောက်ရေး ဒီမိုကရေစီတပ်ပေါင်းစု ဌာနချုပ်တွင် ကျင်းပသည့် ပြည်ထောင်စုနေ့ အခမ်းအနားတွင် ဝိဓူရ သခင်ချစ်မောင် ပြောကြားသော မိန့်ခွန်း... (၁၉၉၂ ခုနှစ် ဖေဖော်ဝါရီလ၊ ပထမအကြိမ်၊ စောင်ရေ ၅၀၀၀၊ တန်ဖိုး ၁၀ကျပ်။)
Wi Du Ya Thakhin Chit Maung ၀ိဓူရ သခင်ချစ်မောင်
Source/publisher:
League of National Progressive Youth
Date of entry/update:
2012-08-04
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Category:
Burmese political culture - general
Language:
Burmese/ မြန်မာဘာသာ
Format :
pdf
Size:
3.14 MB
Local URL:
more
Description:
Need for translations into Burmese of key texts
David Steinberg
Source/publisher:
"The Irrawaddy"
Date of publication:
2012-03-12
Date of entry/update:
2012-03-31
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Category:
Burmese political culture - general, Educational resources and materials (Burma- and non-Burma-related), Dialogue/transition: resources
Language:
English
more
Description:
Abstract: "Based on secondary resources and long term anthropological field research, this paper explores some of the ?external? factors involved in the pro-democracy and ethnic struggles for self-determination currently being experienced in Burma. The analysis draws in cultural, economic and political aspects to demonstrate that a number of macro- and micro-level external or external-origin influences are at play, at a number of different ?inside?, ?outside? and marginal sites. The paper argues in particular that ?cultural? factors such as computer-mediated communication and contacts with outsiders when living in exile, serve as means by which real, virtual and imaginary connections are drawn between these different sites and the actors who inhabit them. In the context of Burma, this paper thus presents a glimpse into this complexity of origin and substance of external influences, of interactions between the external and the internal, and of the multidirectional pathways along which they operate. After an introductory overview, it does so by first reviewing some pertinent macro-political and macro-economic external factors, including international views and strategic interests. The paper then focuses on micro-level social and cultural issues, examining aspects of new media as utilised by the Burmese exile community and international activists. External influences on exiled communities living in the margins on the Thai-Burma border (characterised by the paper as neither ?inside? nor ?outside? proper), including Christianity and foreign non-governmental organisations, are then explored. The paper concludes that inside views, reactions and experiences of outside influences are presently just as important in determining outcomes as are the outside influences themselves."
Sandra Dudley
Source/publisher:
Queen Elizabeth House
Date of publication:
2003-02-00
Date of entry/update:
2010-07-08
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Category:
General anthropological literature: politics, society and culture, Political analysis of Burma and the region, Several Groups, Burmese political culture - general, Internet activism and resources, Anthropological literature on ethnicity and identity
Language:
English
more
Description:
"...an account of the role of pagoda relics and museum fossils
in SLORC-SPDC concepts of nation-building... Here I examine two notable features of this regime. Desperate for national
and international recognition, it began the large-scale renovation and
construction of pagodas, on the one hand, and museums, palaces and
ancient monasteries on the other. These constructions have taken place on
a scale and with a rapidity never before witnessed in the history of
Southeast Asia. It has decided to renovate and rebuild all the thousands of
pagodas in the 11th century capital Pagan. It is furthermore committing
enormous funds to pagodas all over the country. At least two dozen new
museums have been built. These house ancient heritage, but also the
history of the army and the Pondaung fossils, that it claims represent the
oldest humanoids of the world. The latter, it hopes, places the Myanmar
people on the world's map as the oldest civilization. It also has rebuilt all
ancient palaces in the ancient capitals. As I hope to show, these are vital
elements at the heart of the regime's "new" ideology I have dubbed
"Myanmafication", after their decision to rename the country Myanmar in
1989..."
Gustaaf Houtman
Source/publisher:
"Anthropology Today", Vol. 15, No. 4, August 1999, pp 13-19
Date of publication:
1999-08-04
Date of entry/update:
2010-07-08
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Category:
Palaeontology, Burmese political culture - general, Archaeology - Prehistory, General anthropological literature: politics, society and culture
Language:
English
more
Description:
Contemporary poet and literary scholar Min Thu Wun has commented that modern Burmese literature and political thought would be impossible to imagine without the works of Kodaw Hmaing. Maung Lun, later known as Thakin Kodaw Hmaing, was born on March 23, 1876 in Wale Village, Shwedaung Township. In 1894 he moved to Rangoon, where he began his career as a playwright. Later turning to journalism, he published his first articles in a newspaper in Moulmein. But in 1911, just as the Burmese nationalist movement was gaining strength, he returned to the capital to work for the Suria newspaper.
Source/publisher:
"The Irrawaddy" Vol. 8, No. 2
Date of publication:
2000-03-00
Date of entry/update:
2009-02-18
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Category:
Burmese political culture - general
Language:
English
more
Description:
Throughout the history of Burma we come across rebellions often led by so-called ?future kings,? minlaungs. In western historiography, minlaung-movements are usually attributed to the pre-colonial past, whereas rebellions and movements occurring during the British colonial period are conceived of as proto-nationalist in character and thus an indication of the westernizing process. In this article, the notion of minlaung and concomitant ideas about rebellion and the magical-spiritual forces involved are explained against the backdrop of Burmese-Buddhist culture. It is further shown how these ideas persisted and gained momentum before and during World War II and how they affected the western educated nationalists, especially Aung San whose political actions fit into the cultural pattern of the career of a minlaung.
Susanne Prager
Source/publisher:
"Journal of Burma Studies" Vol. 8, 2003
Date of publication:
2003-00-00
Date of entry/update:
2009-01-01
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Category:
British colonial period : Commentary (non-official books, academic papers, articles and reports), Burmese political culture - general, State-Society relations - Kingship
Language:
English
more
Description:
Die hier vorgestellte These besagt, dass es im buddhistischen Birma ein von Menschen aus allen Schichten der Bevölkerung geteiltes geschichtlich überliefertes System von Vorstellungen und Erwartungen gibt, das mit unserem Begriff "Wohlfahrtsstaat" belegt werden kann.
keywords: burmese way to socialism, social system, constitution, political culture, welfare state
Hans-Bernd Zöllner
Source/publisher:
Asienhaus Focus Asien Nr. 26; S. 15-21
Date of publication:
2005-12-29
Date of entry/update:
2006-03-20
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Category:
Social studies of Burma, General studies (covering various periods and themes), Political analysis of Burma and the region, Burmese political culture - general
Language:
Deutsch, German
more
Description:
"Gustaaf Houtman, PhD, is the Deputy Director of the Royal Anthropology Institute in London and the Editor of Anthropology Today. His book, Mental Culture in Burmese Crisis Politics, discusses the Buddhist dimensions to Burma?s conflict between the opposition and the ruling military junta. He spoke with The Irrawaddy about Burma?s political culture and the shortcomings of scholarly work about the country..."
Source/publisher:
"The Irrawaddy" Vol. 12, No. 1
Date of publication:
2004-01-00
Date of entry/update:
2004-03-07
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Category:
Burmese political culture - general
Language:
Engllish
more
Description:
"Burma?s ethnic diversity hasn?t translated into equal representation in the entertainment industry, but young ethnic stars are gradually rising above the prejudice held by the Burman majority...
Back in the 1970s, when Sai Khan Lait would walk the city streets to go to school at Mandalay Medical Institute, kids along the way would heckle him for his peculiar attire: an ethnic Shan outfit. When hanging around campus, schoolgirls simpered at him. When at the hospital, he would be roundly upbraided by the nurses.
"As a student coming from an ethnic minority group, I was very much aware that my life would not be easy in Mandalay," says Sai Khan Lait, who has since become the most famous and respected composer of original modern music in Burma. "Those experiences were deeply personal, and compelled me to compose the song, A Shan Living in Mandalay?." The song went on to become one of the biggest hits in Burmese pop music history..."
Min Zin
Source/publisher:
"The Irrawaddy" Vol. 11, No. 4
Date of publication:
2003-05-00
Date of entry/update:
2003-07-02
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Category:
Burmese political culture - general
Language:
English
more
Description:
"Dominated by cover songs derived from foreign imports, Burmese popular music continues to struggle to find its own voice.
In a closed society like Burma, culture is all about preservation and less to do with innovation. Any creative breakthrough produces moral panic, not only in the minds of the powers that be, but also of the majority of folks. In a deep-down analysis, the structural interests of both politics and the market are the most decisive factors in shaping the creative capacity of the society at large. The 30-year-long journey of Burmese pop music can be seen in this light, since it is very much a product of this control culture and is still subject to the restrictive and exploitative political and market structure..."
Min Zin
Source/publisher:
"The Irrawaddy" Vol. 10, No. 7
Date of publication:
2002-09-00
Date of entry/update:
2003-06-03
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Language:
English
more
Description:
"I think I can be more like a bullet they could use in fighting back."...
The Irrawaddy spoke recently with Yuenyong "Ad" Ophakul, of the Thai folk-rock band Carabao, about his recent solo release, "Don�t Cry" (Mai Dtong Rong Hai). The album, which combines reggae rhythms with strong lyrics expressing support for the Shan struggle for independence, is the artist�s latest foray into Burmese politics. The artist spoke about music and free expression in an interview with Wandee Suntivutimetee..."
Wandee Suntivutimetee
Source/publisher:
"The Irrawaddy" Vol. 10, No. 7
Date of publication:
2002-09-00
Date of entry/update:
2003-06-03
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Language:
English
more
Description:
Moe Aung examines the relationship between Buddhism and popular beliefs in Burma.
Moe Aung
Source/publisher:
"The Irrawaddy", Vol. 7. No. 3
Date of publication:
1999-03-00
Date of entry/update:
2003-06-03
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Category:
Burmese political culture - general
Language:
English
more
Description:
With headlines declaring a political stalemate and international efforts for promoting dialogue stalled, many of those outside Burma are grappling for an understanding of what makes the Burmese political mind tick. On the following pages, Burmese from varied walks of life share their views on the mental culture surrounding Burmese political thinking. What do they see as the cultural and social influences that have an impact on the way people think of politics? How much of a role do religion and traditional values play? And what does it all mean for the future of Burma?
Source/publisher:
"Burma Debate", Vol. VII, No. 3
Date of publication:
2000-09-00
Date of entry/update:
2003-06-03
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Category:
Burmese political culture - general
Language:
English
Format :
pdf
Size:
1.35 MB
Local URL:
more
Description:
A brief look into the life of Ludu Daw Amar, Burma�s best known female journalist and social critic...
"The Burmese word amar translates as "the strong" or "the hard". It is an apt description of one of Burma�s most respected female figures, Ludu Daw Amar (she prefers the spelling, Amah), who turned 87 in November. An energetic political dissenter and left-leaning journalist with a faculty for articulating messages to and for the public, Ludu Daw Amar and her family have had more than their fair share of troubles with the authorities. Even now, Daw Amar is under constant surveillance, but she has never been one to bow down to power.
As the prefix of her name Ludu or "the people" suggests, Daw Amar�s raison d�etre is to speak truth to power on behalf of the people without compromise. "I�ll never forget my first impression," recalls Dutch journalist Minka Nijhuis, who has met Daw Amar four times since 1995. "At first she looked so fragile that even her wristwatch seemed too heavy for her arm. But that impression disappeared as soon as she started speaking."
Min Zin
Source/publisher:
"The Irrawaddy" Vol. 10, No. 8
Date of publication:
2002-10-00
Date of entry/update:
2003-06-03
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Category:
Burmese political culture - general
Language:
English
more
Description:
by Lindsey Merrison
color, 94 minutes, rd 1996
video sale $225, rental $65
"An examination of biculturalism wrapped in an extraordinary personal odyssey. "Our
Burmese Days" is also a fascinating defacto glimpse of life in a country that's rarely
covered in the media today. Now known as Myanmar, the film's title is a reference to
the novel "Burmese Days" by George Orwell, who worked for a time in the country's
colonial police force...B&W footage of the war in Burma is well integrated with modern views and
memories. The camera gives a a feel for contemporary life, both urban and rural
without being "touristy". The filmmaker had long negotiations with the country's
military for a permit to shoot this film. While the political situation is only hinted at the
film is eloquent about the violence of world and family history; eloquent about the
anguish and spiritual expense of hating one's own origins..."
Lindsey Merrison
Date of publication:
1996-00-00
Date of entry/update:
2003-06-03
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Category:
Reviews and announcements of videos and films on Burma, Burmese political culture - general
Language:
English
more
Description:
"The excitement surrounding the discovery of a white elephant has served to illustrate the
continuing importance of pre-modern notions of power in Burmese society...
Culture is not an immediate obstacle to the political transition that Burma urgently needs to undergo.
However, Burmese culture—or, more particularly, notions of power rooted in Burmese culture—may provide a
distorted map that could very well prolong the country?s journey towards its goal of achieving a modern,
democratic state..."
Min Zin
Source/publisher:
"The Irrawaddy", Vol. 9, No. 9
Date of publication:
2001-12-00
Date of entry/update:
2003-06-03
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Category:
Burmese political culture - general
Language:
English
more
Description:
The descent of the Celestial King during the Burmese New Year has been eclipsed by the ambitions of generals who believe they will be rewarded for their deeds here on Earth.
Min Zin
Source/publisher:
"The Irrawaddy", Vol. 9. No. 3
Date of publication:
2001-04-00
Date of entry/update:
2003-06-03
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Category:
Burmese political culture - general
Language:
English
more
Description:
"Rap music and Hip-Hop have gained a foothold in Rangoon, but many still prefer to step to a different beat.
Sai Sai stands waiting backstage wearing his high-top Nike Air Jordans, both hands in the pockets of his oversized shorts that match his loose-fitting hooded sweatshirt. His friend, wearing a bandanna on his head beneath a New York Yankees baseball cap flipped backwards, talks to a fellow band-member sporting her favorite skintight jeans. They are waiting to perform along side some of Burma�s newest and hottest music stars in Rangoon at an outdoor concert�a rarity in a country where public gatherings of more than five people are officially prohibited..."
Shawn L. Nance/Rangoon
Source/publisher:
"The Irrawaddy" Vol. 10, No. 7
Date of publication:
2002-09-00
Date of entry/update:
2003-06-03
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Language:
English
more
Description:
"Legend has it that the king of the nats makes an annual visit to earth with the aim of delivering the world from evil...Where did Thagyamin choose to visit this year? Maybe he was so comfortable surrounded by angels and queens that he forgot to replenish his store of merit. Or perhaps, during Thingyan he went to Inya Lake to enjoy a drink or two with the generals. With any luck he might have found time between drinks to remind them of their spiritual duties..."
Aung Zaw
Source/publisher:
"The Irrawaddy" Vol. 11, No. 3
Date of publication:
2003-04-00
Date of entry/update:
2003-06-03
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Category:
Burmese political culture - general
Language:
English
more
Description:
"The promotion of political ideas in a musical context has been a common feature of mass movements Southeast Asia. In Burma, where strict censorship prevails and military dictatorship still governs, the uneasy marriage of music and politics continues to be met with stiff resistance.
Like other political movements in Southeast Asia, music has provided a rallying point for the masses during political upheavals in Burma. It has served as a potent response to the rapid political and social displacements brought on by neo-colonialism, industrialization, and dictatorship.
At the same time, music has also been appropriated to serve the establishment by strengthening national cohesion, promoting entrenched power structures and spreading selected values and information to the multitudes..."
Aung Zaw
Source/publisher:
"The Irrawaddy" Vol. 10. No. 7
Date of publication:
2002-09-00
Date of entry/update:
2003-06-03
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Language:
English
more
Description:
Garava, the principle of respect for oneself and others, is a cornerstone of Burmese culture. But as Pyei Lwin Nyeinchan writes, forcing people to kowtow to authority is not the way to win respect.
Pyei Lwin Nyeinchan
Source/publisher:
"The Irrawaddy", Vol. 7. No. 7
Date of publication:
1999-08-00
Date of entry/update:
2003-06-03
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Category:
Burmese political culture - general
Language:
English
more