In Myanmar people’s access to justice has been severely hampered by decades of authoritarian military rule, identity politics and ongoing conflicts. The violent reimposition of military rule in February 2021 has drastically undermined people’s fragile sense of security and hope that the country might change, including prospects for reform in the justice sector. However, even prior to the coup, the central state justice system has not been associated with the provision of justice, but with discrimination, corruption, and injustices. Drawing on ethnographies of everyday justice across Myanmar (Naga, Karen, Mon, Pa-O, Rakhine, Yangon) in the pre-coup period, this seminar illuminates how ordinary people use alternative pathways to justice and deliberately evade the state. This is shaped by a strong preference for customary, ethnic-based, and village-level dispute resolution systems, and by a deep mistrust in centralized authority and official state law. Ethno-religious forms of belonging and cultural and religious norms, also shape justice preferences and ethnic justice systems have formed part of ongoing struggles for recognition, federalism, and self-determination by different ethnic organisations. The seminar will reflect on how research on everyday justice continues to be relevant in understanding and moving beyond the current crisis following the 1 February 2021 coup in Myanmar.

Speakers:

Helene Maria Kyed, Danish Institute for International Studies

Myat Thet Thitsar, Nyan Corridor and Enlightened Myanmar Research Foundation

Thang Sorn Poine, Nyan Corridor and Enlightened Myanmar Research Foundation

Justine Chambers, Danish Institute for International Studies

Discussant(s):

Kim Jolliffe

May Oo Muttraw (မေဦးမုတြော်)

To attend the Zoom meeting, please register to get the zoom link at https://cmu-th.zoom.us/…/tJEucumurzkvE9NxSJnndFM8AVf7…

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