MyPACK Burma film screening & panel discussion
Jan 29, 2026 7:00pm – 8:30pm EST
Robarts Library Theatre
University of Toronto
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 29-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: 7:00pm: Opening remarks - Dr. Nisha Toomey 7:10pm: Film screening 7:40pm: Panel discussion + Q&A - Zue Padonmar & Khu Poe Reh (IEC representatives), moderated by Dr. Matthew Walton 8:25pm: Closing remarks - Sam McGavin, 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, and member of MyPACK. - 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. - Sam McGavin is the Executive Director of Inter Pares, an Ottawa-based social justice organization that has been acting in solidarity with social movements and activists around the world for over 50 years. Please contact Nikki Richard nrichard@interpares.ca or Matthew Walton matthew.walton@utoronto.ca with any questions. We hope to see you there!
