Imagine building all the elements of your society from the ground up—your governments, laws, health-care system, agriculture regulations… the works.
Now imagine doing that while living in fear that at any moment, an airstrike could demolish the building you’re in.
That’s the short version of reality right now in Karenni State, Burma.
Since the military ousted the country’s democratically elected government in a 2021 coup, military airstrikes, artillery shelling and drone attacks have killed thousands of civilians.
Amid the ongoing civil war, states have been forging their own paths forward. In Karenni State, communities are building bottom-up systems of governance and organizing collective responses to the military’s brutality.
Zue Padonmar and Khu Poe Reh spoke with Inter Pares’ Kath Clark about their work building an inclusive democracy in Burma.
WATCH THE RECORDING
This conversation was recorded in February 2026. It features Zue Padonmar, Khu Poe Reh and Inter Pares’ Kath Clark.
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About the speakers
Zue Padonmar
Zue is a member of cabinet of the Karenni State interim government’s executive council, a prominent women’s rights activist and member of the Burmese Women’s Union.
Khu Poe Reh
Poe Reh is on the foreign affairs committee of the Karenni State interim government’s executive council. He has a strong background in civil society strengthening and humanitarian response.
Inter Pares acknowledges Global Affairs Canada for their financial support for this program.
