Author Archives: Melissa Crouch

Reflections on Myanmar’s Parliament: From Past to Present

This seminar will draw on the speakers’s extensive expertise in Myanmar to reflect on the role of its parliament. Burma embarked on a decreed and acquiesced political transition to a “disciplined democracy” in 2010. It was preceded by the 2008 national constitutional referendum. The military ruling body, the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC), declaredContinue reading “Reflections on Myanmar’s Parliament: From Past to Present”

ASEAN 360 by Asia Society

Join Asia Society Australia at King & Wood Mallesons in the week of the historic ASEAN-Australia Special Summit in Sydney for ASEAN 360°.  A comprehensive briefing covering the trade and investment, geopolitics and social issues facing the region.Delivered by business, government, academic and media experts based in ASEAN and Australia, this lunchtime panel discussion willContinue reading “ASEAN 360 by Asia Society”

Constitutional Workshops in Myanmar

The past week I have been involved with a range of workshops for International IDEA in Myanmar. This included with the Supreme Court, Constitutional Tribunal, members of parliament and ethnic political parties.  The workshop with the Constitutional Tribunal focused on the ‘The Process of Constitution Building: Constitutional Design and Constitutional Interpretation in a Federal System’. CoverageContinue reading “Constitutional Workshops in Myanmar”

Democracy and Peace Frustrated in Myanmar: Remembering U Ko Ni

Acknowledgement: This article first appeared in The Interpreter, The Lowy Institute, 29 January 2018– Today marks one year since U Ko Ni, a prominent lawyer and advocate for constitutional reform, was assassinated in Myanmar. This was just one of many incidents in 2017 that indicated a sharp decline in freedoms not only in Myanmar but across SoutheastContinue reading “Democracy and Peace Frustrated in Myanmar: Remembering U Ko Ni”

One year on: Tribute to U Ko Ni

Tomorrow marks one year since the assassination of U Ko Ni. Below is a rerun of the article I wrote following that tragedy:This week people in Myanmar were forced to confront the kind of country that it is becoming. On 29 January 2017, U Ko Ni, a prominent lawyer and legal advisor, was tragically assassinated at YangonContinue reading “One year on: Tribute to U Ko Ni”

Routledge Handbook of Contemporary Myanmar

The Routledge Handbook of Contemporary Myanmar has recently been published, edited by Adam Simpson, Iain Halliday and Nicholas Farrelly. It was great to be a part of this collaborative effort. Abstract as follows: This timely Handbook describes the political, economic, and cultural dimensions of this crucial period of transition in Myanmar. It presents explanations for contradictory trends,Continue reading “Routledge Handbook of Contemporary Myanmar”

Introducing the Association for Mainland Southeast Asia Scholars (AMSEAS)

A New Year, a new academic association!Looking to connect with an interdisciplinary group of academics who work on Mainland Southeast Asia? The new Association for Mainland Southeast Asia Scholars (known by the acronym AMSEAS) is now accepting applications for membership. AMSEAS is the first academic association in Australia and New Zealand to focus specifically on Mainland Southeast Asia.Continue reading “Introducing the Association for Mainland Southeast Asia Scholars (AMSEAS)”

UNSW Southeast Asia Events

A Review of 2017Looking back on 2017, its been a busy year for UNSW Law and its events in/at/on Southeast Asia. Here’s a brief overview: JanuaryFaculty member, Co-teaching Stream on ‘Law and Society in Southeast Asia’, Harvard Law School’s Institute for Global Law & Policy Workshop, 5-12 January, Bangkok, Thailand. FebruaryLecturer, Course on Principles and Processes ofContinue reading “UNSW Southeast Asia Events”

New Academic Association on Mainland Southeast Asia

In October 2017, scholars of Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam in Australia and New Zealand established the Association of Mainland Southeast Asia Scholars (AMSEAS). It is a sub-regionally focused academic association affiliated with the Asian Studies Association of Australia, Australia’s peak body for the scholarly study of Asia. AMSEAS seeks to advance research relevantContinue reading “New Academic Association on Mainland Southeast Asia”