The experts concluded that the cycle of protest and crackdown is not an aberration but a structural feature of a military-dominated state that cannot negotiate with its own citizens.
The return to the negotiating table after nearly two decades underscores the particular challenges faced by small, environmentally vulnerable economies.
Food security is at stake in a nation self-sufficient in rice production. The unregulated market risks artificial shortages, where hoarding drives spikes despite ample harvests. Without intervention, experts warn of potential vulnerabilities to climate shocks or global disruptions, as the system lacks resilience.