Myanmar’s 2020 Elections: Expectations and Realities
MYANMAR STUDIES PROGRAMME WEBINAR
About the Webinar
On November 8, citizens of Myanmar will go to the polls in nation-wide elections conducted amidst a second wave of Covid-19 infections across the country. Myanmar citizens overseas will have cast their votes earlier. The 2020 elections in Myanmar are viewed largely as an exercise in determining how strong a mandate the incumbent National League for Democracy (NLD) will receive to continue its work in a second term. A panel of experts with deep knowledge and understanding of various aspects of Myanmar’s journey of transformation will discuss the state of play in Myanmar, including the economy and national development, ethnic views towards political processes, and the range of socio-economic issues faced by citizens and various communities in Myanmar.
About the Speakers
Myo Thant is currently chief economist at the Parami Roundtable Group in Myanmar. He worked with the Asian Development Bank (ADB) for 27 years, specialising in regional economic cooperation, growth triangles and economic corridors, and retired from the ADB in 2013 as Principal Economist in the Office of Regional Economic Integration. Prior to joining the ADB, he worked at the United Nations and taught at New York University.
Vicky Bowman has been the Director of Myanmar Centre for Responsible Business (MCRB) since July 2013. Prior to that, she led global mining company Rio Tinto’s policy approach to transparency, human rights, and resource nationalism issues. Vicky has served as the UK Ambassador to Myanmar (2002-06) and as Second Secretary (1990-93). She has also worked in Brussels as Member of Cabinet of European Commissioner Chris Patten and as press spokeswoman for the UK representation to the European Union.
Cheery Zahau is Country Program Director (Myanmar) of the Project 2049 Institute. A human rights activist from Myanmar’s Chin State, Cheery has received awards from the European Union in 2018 and from the UNDP in 2017 for her engagement in human rights, women participation and gender equality, and peace concerns in her community and beyond. The Chin people named her “Chin Person of the Year” in 2011. She has authored and contributed to several major reports submitted to various United Nations committees, and qualitative research reports on aspects of gender and human rights.
Thompson Chau is chief reporter and associate editor of The Myanmar Times, leading the paper’s news coverage on Myanmar’s political economy and public policies. He was previously digital and business editor. Thompson’s reporting and analyses have regularly appeared in Nikkei Asia, the Economist and Asia Times. His focus includes the role of private investments and economic reform in Myanmar’s democratic aspirations. Thompson is also a director of the Myanmar-Hong Kong Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and vice-chair of the chamber’s financial services working group. Prior to journalism, Thompson worked in overseas trade and local government in the UK and Southeast Asia.
Registration
This webinar will be delivered online entirely. You can join the webinar at the specified date and time using devices (computer, phone, or tablet) with internet connection.
Please register here to receive your unique link for joining the webinar.
Limited spaces only, register early to avoid disappointment.
To join the webinar,
1. Install the Zoom client onto your computer or download the app on your mobile device.
2. Set up a Zoom account, using the following link: https://zoom.us/signup
3. Click on the unique link in your email.
For the best experience, please mute your microphone. If you have questions for the speakers, please key in your questions via the Q&A, stating your name and affiliation. The moderator will field them to the speakers during the Q&A session