Roots of Revolution: Burma film & panel discussion
January 29, 2026 | 7:00PM - 8:30PM
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In-person
Location: Robarts Library Theatre , University of Toronto
The Myanmar Policy and Community Knowledge Hub (MyPACK) at the Asian Institute, Munk School of Global Affairs & Public Policy, and Inter Pares invite you to join us on Thursday January 29th from 7-8:30pm in the Robarts Library Theatre at the University of Toronto, for a film screening and panel discussion on democracy efforts in eastern Burma.
The 30-minute documentary film, “Roots of Revolution: Building bottom-up democracy in Eastern Burma,” will shine a light on how, amidst the turmoil of war, diverse actors in Karenni State are courageously meeting community needs while contributing to the development of a federal democratic future. Two visiting leaders from the new state-level government, the Karenni State Consultative Council (KSCC)’s Interim Executive Council, will discuss their democracy-building work and the current situation in Burma.
The creation of this film, the work that it features, and the panelists’ in-person participation is generously supported by Global Affairs Canada through its programming partner Inter Pares.
Program:
07:00 PM: Opening remarks - Dr. Nisha Toomey
07:10 PM: Film screening
07:40 PM: Panel discussion + Q&A - Zue Padonmar & Khu Poe Reh (IEC representatives), moderated by Dr. Matthew Walton
08:25 PM: Closing remarks - Inter Pares
Featured speakers:
- Zue Padonmar is Secretary 1 in the Cabinet of the Karenni State Consultative Council (KSCC)’s Interim Executive Council (IEC). She is also a prominent women’s rights activist and member of the Burmese Women’s Union (BWU).
- Khu Poe Reh is Liaison Officer of the IEC’s Foreign Affairs Committee, with a strong background in civil society strengthening and humanitarian response.
- Dr. Nisha Toomey is a SSHRC Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of Toronto's Department of Political Science.
- Dr. Matthew Walton is Associate Professor in Comparative Political Theory in the Department of Political Science at the University of Toronto, and member of MyPACK.
- Inter Pares is an Ottawa-based social justice organization that has been acting in solidarity with social movements and activists around the world for over 50 years.