Op-Ed: Will Myanmar’s military junta soften up?

13 Sept 15:42 Key points summarised by AI

The release of American journalist Danny Fenster, following a visit from a former US envoy, indicates a potential willingness by Myanmar's junta to engage more with outsiders beyond the ASEAN family.
Intensified shuttle diplomacy by officials from Thailand, Japan, and China suggests the military regime is under increasing international scrutiny and pressure to move forward.
Myanmar faces a deepening humanitarian crisis with over 250,000 displaced persons due to conflict and COVID-19, with aid efforts severely hampered by the junta's refusal to establish a humanitarian corridor.
Establishing an uninterrupted flow of humanitarian aid critically depends on a ceasefire and agreement from all conflicting parties to ensure safe delivery and access.
Myanmar's path to future stability requires implementing ASEAN's five-point consensus, while continued international pressure remains essential to address issues like the ongoing arrests of local journalists.

Uthenthawai students and alumni declare truce with Pathumwan rivals

Yesterday 20:34 Key points summarised by AI

Uthenthawai students and alumni have pledged to cease violent clashes with Pathumwan Institute rivals, coinciding with their campus's reopening after a 90-day closure.
The Minister of Higher Education is mediating the long-running conflict, while the campus closure has significantly disrupted in-person classes and laboratory work for over 1,000 students.
Uthenthawai resists relocation from its current site, citing a historical land grant from King Rama VI, despite Chulalongkorn University's plans to reclaim the land for an educational hub.
Concerns are mounting over the legality of the campus closure, its detrimental impact on uninvolved students, and the potential commercial development of the land, which critics argue contradicts the late King Rama VI's intentions.