A Myanmar Democrat’s Reflections on the NLD Era in Parliament and Hopes for the Future

The Moynihan Institute’s East Asia Program presents Aye Mya Mya Myo, member of Parliament, National League for Democracy, Myanmar.

Aye Mya Mya Myo will discuss her experiences as a candidate, MP, and activist for democracy and women in politics in Myanmar. Her political career spans an essential period in Myanmar’s history, from the liberalization leading up to the 2015 election, through the period of semi-democratic governance, and culminating with the February 2021 coup and aftermath.

Her remarks will focus on her experience with the National League for Democracy in campaigns and elections, the role of women and minorities in politics, the post-coup Civil Disobedience Movement, and the current conflict. She will share her observations on the condition of the country and the impacts of the coup of the population, services and security in territory under resistance control, and coordination within ASEAN and the international community.

Aye Mya Mya Myo was first elected to Myanmar’s House of Representatives in the landmark 2015 election as a candidate for the National League for Democracy (NLD). She is currently the elected representative for Latha constituency in the Yangon Region Parliament.

Following the 2021 military coup, she supported the civil disobedience movement until the military began targeting elected officials and NLD party members. She supported resistance efforts from border regions under the control of ethnic militias and eventually traveled to the U.S. where she remains a vocal advocate for restoring democracy in her country.

She is a founding member of the Myanmar Women Parliamentarian Network. An educator by profession, she has a bachelor’s degree in mathematics from Taunggyi University.