Retrospectively removing indefinite leave to remain would be immoral and economically damaging. It would tear families apart. Attacking it as ‘potentially illegal’ is completely beside the point. Argue with the (awful) idea. Don’t try ’well, actually you can’t do that’.

You know why ethnic minorities in the UK always feel second-class as if they're never safe in this country and could be asked to leave at any time? This is why:

🚨Event alert!🚨 17 CSOs including PV will hold an online press conference to launch a joint report on how #Myanmar civil society is strengthening local resilience. 📅 30 Sep 2025 ⏰ 3:00 PM (Bangkok time) 🔗 Register here: bit.ly/3HR90Xq ℹ️ More info: bit.ly/4nzWHxw

The recognition of refugee work rights is a historic step forward after 41 years of confinement to camps, but it’s only one part of a much broader process. Much more work is needed to ensure all refugees, not just those in camps, can live in safety and dignity.

🎙️"For the Lhotshampa, this announcement of the Geluphu Mindfulness City is incredibly painful because it is just yet another erosion of the identity of the existence within Bhutan," @maxmorch.bsky.social #StateofSouthasia

📣 🎙️ Coming up on State of Southasia, Maximillian Morch (@maxmorch.bsky.social) who researches Asia's borderlands talks to @nayantaran.bsky.social about the economic strife and the history of repression behind Bhutan's mega project – the Gelephu Mindfulness City.

📣 🎙️ Coming up on State of Southasia, Maximillian Morch (@maxmorch.bsky.social) who researches Asia's borderlands talks to @nayantaran.bsky.social about the economic strife and the history of repression behind Bhutan's mega project – the Gelephu Mindfulness City.

Bhutan’s new Mindfulness City is hailed as sustainable & values-based—but built on land once home to Lhotshampa refugees expelled in the 1990s. I speak on the State of Southasia podcast (@Himalistan) about what this project erases. www.himalmag.com/podcast/maxi...

Today marks 2 years since the disappearance of Myanmar refugee activist Thuzar Maung, and her 3 children, from their home in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. DVB continues its investigation #goneWithoutATrace #whatshappeninginmyamar #abduction youtu.be/5zTQi74156I

Incisive autopsy of the hidden narratives behind Crisis Group's post-earthquake analysis on Myanmar. Excellent writing. Follow Beyond Ah Na for regular dissection of the misleading and harmful narratives that underpin much mainstream analysis on Myanmar. ahnah.substack.com/p/who-owns-t...

The em dash supposedly being a “tell” for AI generated text does sort of give away the game on the enormous amount of work stolen from journalists and news organizations that these things were trained on

"A major failing of 'Enlightened Leadership' relates to its treatment of the Lhotshampa question: Bhutan’s mass expulsion of its Nepali-descent ethnic minority." @maxmorch.bsky.social‬ reviews the prime minister Tshering Tobgay’s memoir:

"There is a recurring weakness: a lack of detail on how certain policy issues have been resolved. This is particularly glaring in a book written by a two-time prime minister." @maxmorch.bsky.social‬ writes:

Bhutan brands itself a peaceful democracy, yet continues to deny rights to Lhotshampa and detain critics. PM Tobgay’s new book praises “enlightened leadership”—compassion he won’t extend to the displaced. For Himal Southasian, I explore the contradiction

Today in the ARB: @maxmorch.bsky.social reviews “One More Story About Climbing a Hill: Stories from Assam” by Devabrata Das (Speaking Tiger) asianreviewofbooks.com/one-more-sto...

"There can be no effective, ethical recovery if the architects of the suffering are allowed to control the [humanitarian] response while they continue to destroy lives through bombings and killings." says @khinohmar.bsky.social progressivevoicemyanmar.org/2025/05/03/a...

My new article on increased police extortion of Myanmar migrants in Thailand since Myanmar's 2021 military coup: "Navigating Thailand's extortion regime."

God there were so many of these…

Khit Thit Media reports that when the earthquake struck during Friday prayers, at least 50 mosques were destroyed, and 300 Muslims lost their lives. The actual death toll may be significantly higher.

Earthquake scrambles the already dire situation, but junta continues bombing; Kokang resist Chinese pressure to retreat; junta airstrike destroys a hospital & murders health workers. #WhatsHappeningInMyanmar #Myanmar #Burma #Rohingya #China

27 pages. Of babies. Whose entire understanding of what Earth sounded like was bombs dropping & people screaming at the sky

Emergency Appeal: Refugees Need Your Help Now! Due to funding suspensions, The Border Consortium (TBC) can no longer guarantee food support for refugees. 108,000 refugees in nine border camps are at immediate risk. Please consider supporting refugees.

"What was less surprising, but intensely revealing, was how international actors immediately shut down. They closed clinics and froze funding. In contrast, local groups have continued delivering life-saving assistance, often now as volunteers, drawing on donations" odi.org/en/insights/...

Maximillian Morch from the Thai Border Consortium (TBC), which provides food and cooking fuel to all the nine camps along the Thai-Myanmar border, said they were trying to get approval for a life-saving waiver from the US government but had no confirmation yet. #WhatsHappeningInMyanmar #Myanmar

📢This International Women's Day, KHRG demands bold action for gender equality. It’s time to dismantle the barriers and biases holding women back. We’re grateful to all those raising their voices for change. Let’s create a world where every woman thrives—without exception. 🌍 #IWD2025 #KHRG

Today in the ARB: @maxmorch.bsky.social reviews “Enchanted Modernities: Ancestral Vitalizations in the Upper Mekong” by Micah F Morton @uwiscpress.bsky.social asianreviewofbooks.com/enchanted-mo...

Revolution and tea leaf salad: The story of Mizzima Media In 1990, Myanmar dissident Soe Myint and another student hijacked a Thai Airways flight to Yangon, forcing the plane to divert to Kolkata to highlight their demands for an end to military rule in Burma. www.facebook.com/events/34141...

The US has a moral and strategic imperative to support Myanmar’s pro-democracy movement. The failure to act decisively would not only embolden the regime but also allow authoritarianism to take deeper root, writes Harry Myo Lin english.dvb.no/why-the-trum... #WhatsHappeninglnMyanmar

For decades the border between India & Myanmar has been soft with indigenous peoples able to move freely between the two as land was divided by arbitrary colonial line. However India has been hardening it, dividing communities, villages, houses. Defend free movement. #WhatsHappeningInMyanmar

Good article on the use of starlink by scam centres on the Myanmar/ thailand border, enabling the criminal enterprises. However a blanket shut off of starlink in Myanmar would be a big problem as many resistance forces & CSOs also use the tech to counter widespread Internet shutdowns & surveillance

The US funding cuts have had immediate impacts on refugees and #IDPs. @borderconsortium.bsky.social says the food in the camps is quickly running out: "Nobody knows what could happen if there are no more funds at the end of March." www.irrawaddy.com/news/burma/f...

Refugees must have the power to shape their own future—one that is not held hostage by the fluctuations of global humanitarian aid.

Thai media outlet @prachatai.com reports that several trucks with detainees left Bangkok’s infamous Immigration Detention Center at 2.30am (Thu). No confirmation if the 43 Uyghurs that have been held since 2014 are among them, as fears of a forced deportation to China have been mounting this week.

Junta’s airstrike on a wedding in Myaing, Magwe killed at least 9, hitting a monastery where the ceremony was held. Another deliberate attack on people at their most vulnerable. 🚨 The world must effectively enforce sanctions on aviation fuel to end junta airstrikes. myanmar-now.org/en/news/at-l...

The Political Prisoners Network Myanmar (PPNM) told DVB on Tuesday that two political prisoners died at Obo Prison in Mandalay on Feb. 10 and 18. #WhatsHappeningInMyanmar #Mandalay Read more: english.dvb.no/regime-plans...

Myanmar junta’s forced conscription – after being repatriated – of potentially thousands of young men could constitute a war crime, rights activists say.

🚨#Myanmar junta’s claim of providing aid to IDPs is nothing but propaganda. Displaced ppl continue to suffer junta’s war & aid weaponization. Junta has manipulated aid that goes thru it, ensuring aid doesn’t reach ppl it attacks. ✊ Aid must go thru local responders! eng.mizzima.com/2025/02/24/1...

"Violation of Free Speech in January 2025" In January 2025, the #Myanmar military-controlled newspaper Myanma Alin reported the arrest of at least four ordinary citizens and the imprisonment of one retired army major for exercising their freedom of speech. Read more: tinyurl.com/yc7xc7zp #athanmm

The authorities in Thailand shut down the office of the Aid Alliance Committee (AAC) on Thursday. This comes two days after local authorities inspected the AAC office in Mahachai, Samut Sakhon Province of Thailand. Read more: english.dvb.no/talks-betwee... #WhatsHappeninglnMyanmar

Myanmar: WANT. "To mark a milestone in the life of this leading independent news service, a book has been released entitled: “Resisting Military Rule in Burma (1988-2024) Story of Mizzima Media: Born in Exile, Banned in Myanmar” by Nandita Haksar & Soe Myint." eng.mizzima.com/2025/02/04/1...

My analysis for The New Humanitarian. There're many foreign experts on #Myanmar who I respect, but I made a conscious decision to champion Burmese (not Bamar) voices for this story. Thanks for trusting me with your thoughts. You know who you are. #Burma www.thenewhumanitarian.org/analysis/202...

For over four years, I have been writing for the Asian Review of Books, which has now joined the Royal Society for Asian Affairs. Sharing my latest review: In Praise of Floods: The Untamed River and the Life It Brings by the late, great James C. Scott. asianreviewofbooks.com/in-praise-of...

📌 One hour to go! Stay tuned and join us at 9.30 am (YGN Time) for our press conference: Global human rights network @Ganhri1 removes junta-controlled MNHRC ✊ Insights from panelists from PV, Generation Wave & Athan! Register ⤵️ bit.ly/4hUgWDn

Today in the ARB: @maxmorch.bsky.social reviews “In Praise of Floods: The Untamed River and the Life It Brings” by James C Scott @yalepress.bsky.social asianreviewofbooks.com/in-praise-of...

📜Repression of Communication and Digital Rights Situation in Myanmar: The military junta has increased its efforts to suppress the internet, communication, and digital rights, including freedom of expression, through a systemic use of technology In 2024. Read full report >> tinyurl.com/2s3wavsp

Over 106,000 refugees in nine camps along the Thai-Myanmar border depend on food assistance, but funding is increasingly uncertain. I spoke with BBC Burmese about why sustaining this support is more critical than ever. www.facebook.com/share/p/18sg...

The Karenni resistance in Burma just captured the final Junta border outpost in the state, Taung Katone (တောင်ကတုံး), ~40 border outposts were captured/abandoned in total since the start of the coup, and there is now a stretch of 350km of the Thai border with NO junta presence.

🚨 As of September 2024, 54 #Myanmar journalists and media professionals remained behind bars. Since the Feb 2021 coup, 213 journalists and news workers have been arrested, 76 convicted, and 160 released under the regime. Read more (Q3 report) : tinyurl.com/5hfzfd3n #athanmm #athan #FoE #MediaFree

This month’s update shows how recent Executive Orders impact our food support for displaced communities, with snapshots of our work and camp population figures. See how we’re responding to evolving challenges at theborderconsortium.org.

Latest 👏👏 #Myanmar’s NUG does not recognize and dissolves the military junta’s so-called MNHRC which has remained silent on the junta’s crimes, lacking independence and credibility. Global human rights network GANHRI has already removed the MNHRC from its platform last year.