'A-Maze: Myanmar's struggle for democracy': Conversation with activist, writer and surgeon Ma Thida

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Myanmar’s renowned activist Ma Thida will speak about her forthcoming book on the country’s struggle for democracy, and share her insights on the current situation.

The decade-long quasi-civilian administration period (2011-2020) didn't bring Myanmar to reach its way toward democracy, instead Myanmar had been lost in a tortuous maze crafted by the military leaders. Her book highlights to answer some questions like 'How has the Sprint Revolution gained its aimful momentum and maintained positivity so far? What are those hard-to-get-rid-of walls? How are majority of people of/from Myanmar trying to keep their march on current passages to reach back on the road to democracy?

Centre for South East Asian Studies Chair, Prof Michael Charney, will share his comments as an expert on Myanmar studies. This conversation will be moderated by Aiko Doden, Professor Practice at the Centre for International Studies and Diplomacy.

About the speakers

Ma Thida is Chair of PEN International’s Writers in Prison Committee. Recipient of PEN/Barbara Goldsmith Freedom to Write Award. Ma Thida is an activist, writer and surgeon. In 1993 she was arrested by the repressive military regime on the charges of “endangering peace, having contact with illegal organizations and distributing unlawful literature” and served 6-years in Insein Prison.

Aiko Doden is a journalist and commentator at Japan’s public broadcaster NHK. Formerly she was a correspondent based in Bangkok, covering South East Asia with a focus on Myanmar. She holds MA from Columbia University.

• Organisers: SOAS Centre of South East Asian Studies and SOAS Department of Politics and International Studies
• Contact email: centres@soas.ac.uk