On Tuesday 17th November, we were very pleased to have the opportunity to welcome to GSF Rushanara Ali MP, Chair, All Party Parliamentary Group on Democracy in Burma; Mark Canning CMG, British Ambassador to Myanmar (2006-09); and Dr Richard Cockett, The Economist’s Southeast Asia correspondent from 2010-2014 and author of ‘Blood, Dreams and Gold: The Changing Face of Burma’. They spoke in a discussion entitled ‘From Dictatorship To Democracy: A New Era For Myanmar?’, which was chaired by Lord Lothian.

The panellists agreed that while it should be acknowledged how far Myanmar has come, many challenges still remain for the country and its new leaders, despite these elections, ranging from accommodation with the military to far greater economic development. At the top of the list however, was the critical need for leadership in pursuit of human rights and justice, in order to create a truly inclusive and democratic society, in which all minorities can live peacefully together in some of form of federal solution. Richard Cockett concluded that it remained an open question as to whether this election would move that process further along.

To listen again to the discussion, click here.