On 2 July 2020, over 170 people were killed in a landslide in the jade mines of Hpakant, Myanmar. This story of fictional characters surrounded by real events portrays the risks miners take and the suffering endured by their families.
Tag: Zomia
Between a Rock and a Hard Place
Both the Myanmar military and the Kachin Independence Army have expressed intentions to reach a bilateral ceasefire agreement in Kachin State. But while Kachin and non-Kachin alike say they’re tired of the impact of war, there’s still doubt as to whether such a ceasefire would truly hold.
The Independent Outlets Plugging Gaps in Thai Coverage
Thai journalists have traditionally gravitated towards the capital of Bangkok in search of media work, leaving the media landscape short on regional and local coverage. But some independent outlets are now stepping into the breach to change that.
“I Just Want My Farmland Back”
The National League for Democracy had promised in 2016 it would solve all land dispute issues within six months, but for the villagers of Shwe Nyaung Pin village in Myanmar’s Kachin State, this commitment has yet to be realised.
Into Myanmar’s Special Region 2
The Wa are seeking methods of engaging with international partners and their Burmese and Chinese counterparts. Attempts to open up and demystify what has long been perceived as a secretive and isolated region must coming alongside local engagement.
A Short-Lived Struggle for Religious Freedom
In 2011, thousands of ethnic Hmong Christians gathered in a district in northwest Vietnam to demand religious freedom. Their demonstration was eventually met by Vietnamese state security forces, and the area has been largely closed to visitors since.
In Chiang Mai, the Walls Can Speak
Chiang Mai in Thailand’s north provides its residents and visitors with a very different vibe from Bangkok in the south. And the local street art community is adding a splash of colour to the historical city.