Upcoming seminar: October 5, 2015, 10.00 a.m. to 11.00 a.m. Where: Isaac Brown Room (ground floor bld. 55, next to busloop), Clayton Campus, Monash University, Centre of Southeast Asia Studies Abstract: In the lead up to the Myanmar elections in November 2015, one issue has stood out: the precarious position of Muslims. From the recently enacted four lawsContinue reading “Law, Politics and Islam in Myanmar”
Category Archives: BURMA
Talk: Constitutional Reform in Authoritarian Regimes
Next week I will be speaking at the Law Faculty, University of Otago, New Zealand, on ‘Constitutional Reform in Authoritarian Regimes: Writs as Weapons in Myanmar?’ The role and function of constitutions in authoritarian regimes has always been something of an anomaly for scholars. Yet a new body of scholarship has emerged in an effort to exploreContinue reading “Talk: Constitutional Reform in Authoritarian Regimes”
Constitutional Writs and Human Rights Workshop
On 8-9 August 2015, I participated in a workshop on the ‘Constitutional Writs and Human Rights’ in Yangon, Myanmar. The workshop was organised by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the Public Legal Aid Network (PLAN) Myanmar. The workshop was attended by a wide range of participants from across Myanmar, many of whomContinue reading “Constitutional Writs and Human Rights Workshop”
Australia Myanmar Constitutional Democracy Workshops
Myanmar is currently at a pivotal moment in its political and legal history. The Australia-Myanmar Constitutional Democracy Project (AMCDP), a consortium of law schools devoted to generating understanding and support for constitutional democracy in Myanmar, have just returned from a series of two workshops. The workshops commenced in Mandalay for two days from 13-14 July, followed by aContinue reading “Australia Myanmar Constitutional Democracy Workshops”
Book review: Opposing the Rule of Law
Every now and then, a book comes along that offers a fresh take on a topic that has become commonplace. The rule of law is a ubiquitous theme running through the law and development landscape and the way we think about law reform in this era. The empire that has become the rule of lawContinue reading “Book review: Opposing the Rule of Law”
Why Myanmar needs constitutional review
Last week there was debate in the Pyidaungsu Hluttaw, or Union Parliament, over the future of the Constitutional Tribunal, one of the new institutions established under the 2008 constitution. In discussions over proposed constitutional amendments, it was suggested that the Constitutional Tribunal should be abolished. This proposal has been made with reference to claims thatContinue reading “Why Myanmar needs constitutional review”
UNSW Law – Myanmar events
UNSW is contributing to a number of events happening in Myanmar in July together with partners in Myanmar. On 9-10th July, Professor Brendan Edgeworth and myself will teach at the Law Department at Mandalay University, as part of the MOU between UNSW Law and Mandalay University. My talk with focus on academic research skills and method inContinue reading “UNSW Law – Myanmar events”
Myanmar elections lack legitimacy without constitutional change
Constitutional reform is an important part of Myanmar’s transition from military rule. Although widespread political reforms have been enacted since 2011, these have not yet been accompanied by constitutional change. The next few months will determine whether constitutional amendment will take place before the elections scheduled in November. This will affect the very legitimacy ofContinue reading “Myanmar elections lack legitimacy without constitutional change”
Law and Investment in Myanmar
Tomorrow I will head over to the Law Faculty of the University of Sydney to give a lecture in the LLM program on ‘Law and Investment in Myanmar’. Part of the transition process since 2011 has been efforts to reform the economic and business sector. There have been many changes – such as the newContinue reading “Law and Investment in Myanmar”
Ethnic Rights and Constitutional Change
Ive recently put out a paper on Ethnic Rights and Constitutional Change with the UNSW Working Paper series. This paper explores the provisions of the 2008 Constitution of Myanmar that appear to give some of form of recognition to some ethnic nationalities. I am concerned with why a military regime would grant forms of special recognition to ethnicContinue reading “Ethnic Rights and Constitutional Change”
Melissa Crouch 