On January 6, 2022, Dr Miemie Byrd appeared as a subject matter expert on the Democratic Voice of Burma, a non-profit media organization based in Oslo, Norway, and Chiang Mai, Thailand.* In the interview, conducted in Burmese, she discusses the crisis in Myanmar and the impact of the recent nationwide Silent Strike protest that took place on December 10, 2021. She highlights the importance of Strategic Communications as a means to convey, to an international audience, what is happening on the ground level.

According to Dr. Byrd, an international audience can encourage and amplify the voices of the Burmese who have been advocating for democracy since the military coup that took place last year. With more support, the Burmese who are advocating for democracy can increase their partnerships and dialogues.

“It’s not only about Burma, says Dr.Byrd. “It’s about democracy. [The Burmese] have a taste of democracy that is why the resistance is as strong as it has been. They have the capacity and capability to respond.

As a professor at the DKI APCSS, Dr. Byrd specializes in Security Sector Development, U.S.-Burma relations, and Asia-Pacific Economics. Her most recent publication is titled, “Myanmar’s U-turn: Implications of the Military Coup on Strategic Competition in the Indo-Pacific.”

*Dr. Byrd appeared on the Democratic Voice of Burma as an invited subject matter expert.  Accordingly, the views expressed in the above interview are that of her own and do not necessarily represent the views of the Department of Defense or its components.