The struggle against the military in Myanmar

Aung Myo Min  is the Union Minister for Human Rights in the cabinet of the National Unity Government of Myanmar.  Myanmar’s legitimate government has been in exile since the military coup in 2021. He has been a lifelong human rights activist, a student leader in Myanmar's 1988 revolution and the first openly gay Minister in Myanmar.

The military coup three years ago shut down a period of democratisation. Since then the regime has waged war on its own people with more than 4800 civilians dead, and mass human rights abuses. Over the last six months or so the ethnic armed organisations coordinating with the Peoples Defence Forces have had a string of military successes and now control 43% of the country. The regime is looking increasingly shaky. It is quite an incredible story.

We are pleased to be able to offer this opportunity to meet a person from the front line of the democratic resistance.

The format for the session will be a conversation between Ross Wilson and the Minister which will provide an overview of this ongoing crisis for a New Zealand audience, as well as exploring some of the key geo-political and other issues. 

Ross is the Chair of UnionAID and has had a 25 year involvement with Myanmar including the UnionAID Myanmar Young Leaders Programme and working in Yangon for the International Labour Organisation. He works closely with the Myanmar pro-democracy movement.