NED 2026 Democracy Award honors Myanmar’s Spring Revolution; ‘RAY: The Movie’ portrays the movement

Prominent youth activist and strike leader Nan Lin accepted the 2026 Democracy Award from the National Endowment for Democracy (NED) on behalf of the “pro-democracy community organizers of Burma’s Spring Revolution” during an annual ceremony held at George Washington’s Mount Vernon in the U.S. state of Virginia on Friday. The award recognizes grassroots networks and peaceful organizers who have displayed resilience in defending human rights and advancing democratic principles since the 2021 military coup. Delivering his acceptance speech via video address from a resistance-controlled area in Burma, Nan Lin highlighted the endurance of the anti-coup movement. “We demand the immediate and unconditional release of all political prisoners. Even after five years, we continue our fight. We will never give up until we achieve a genuine federal democratic union,” he said, dedicating the award to the Civil Disobedience Movement (CDM) and fallen activists exercising fundamental rights to assembly. Cambodia hosts regime leader Min Aung Hlaing in Phnom Penh Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet hosted regime leader Min Aung Hlaing for a two-day official state visit in Phnom Penh, Sept. 11-12, which marked Min Aung Hlaing’s fourth to an Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) member state since being inaugurated president on April 10 following the regime’s 2025-26 elections. The high-level reception in Cambodia prompted immediate criticism from human rights groups as the International Criminal Court (ICC) is considering an arrest warrant for Min Aung Hlaing, which was requested in November 2024 by former ICC Chief Prosecutor Karim Khan. The warrant application is still pending. “The Cambodian government should not welcome Myanmar leader Min Aung Hlaing. He has been implicated in many abuses, and the ICC prosecutor has requested an arrest warrant for his alleged crimes against humanity,” said Elaine Pearson, Asia director at Human Rights Watch (HRW). “As an ICC member, Cambodia has an important role to play in holding the line.” Exiled filmmaker portrays the fight for democracy with RAY The Movie Director The Khit Nay said that his latest film RAY The Movie portrays the fight for democracy through the story of those who stood up during the 2021 coup. “They traded their crowns, medals, and comfortable lives for a fight that demanded their very souls. From the agonizing silence of interrogation rooms to the brutal reality of the jungle,” according to the film’s synopsis. The Khit Nay told DVB that he also wanted RAY The Movie to reflect on previous pro-democracy movements in 1962 and 1988 since it is based on the book “Ma Yai Lae Tan [Unshakable]” by Khat Zaw. The film also tells the true life story of Htar Htet Htet, a 36-year-old who left behind a successful modeling and acting career to join the armed resistance to the coup. RAY The Movie was produced by Robert and Sophia Sarkis, who are a Lebanese-Myanmar couple living in Australia with three children. Sophia Sarkis was crowned Mrs. Universe Australia Charity Queen 2022 and used her platform to speak out against the coup. Besides Htar Htet Htet, the film features prominent Myanmar actors Min Maw Kunn and Daung (Thura Aung). News by Region AYEYARWADY—Nearly 30 feet (9 meters) of a repaired embankment in the Ngawin River collapsed on Wednesday, which sent floodwater into Lemyethna Township for a second time on Sept. 9. “We are conducting rescue and relocation efforts,” a Lemyethna resident told DVB on the condition of anonymity. This latest embankment collapse comes one day after the regime authorities announced that the breach that had originally occurred on July 30 had been brought under control. Flood water villages located along the river rose by about 1.5 feet (0.5 meters) over the past two days, submerging major roads. MANDALAY—The regime in Naypyidaw announced that Mandalay International Airport would be closed for two days on Thursday, from Sept. 10-12, after the Tada-U Air Force base was attacked by Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), also known as drones. Tada-U Township is located 22 miles (35 km) south of Mandalay. “The airport was under attack and passengers were injured,” a military officer told DVB on the condition of anonymity without providing a number of casualties. Regime media reported that nobody was injured, but called the attack a “war crime” under the Geneva Conventions.