Burma is a country located between India, China and Thailand, in Asia. 67 different ethnic groups preside there, many are tribes living in the jungle and the mountains. Some of the more dominant groups are the Shan, Karen, Mon, and Pulau. Burma became independent of Britain in 1948; while national conflict seems to have resulted, it has actually been a problem for a long time. Burma has been impoverished due to a military government and was rated by the UN in 1987 as Least Developed Country. Because of the government's blatant disregard for human rights the country has been thrown into civil war : basically people versus government.
Burma has also been named Myanmar, by the military government which has held power since 1962. The military took power by force, and the democratic government which had power for a brief period was overthrown. The leader of the military was a general named Ne Win (1962). He was unpopular because of his political failures, but he retained his power by intimidation and torture. The Burmese have clearly indicated that they are in favor of democracy, as was shown when the National League for Democracy (NLD) won 80% of the seats in a 1990 election, when the military decided to hold elections. The military had not expected this and in an outrage they declared the election void and imprisoned, killed and tortured all members of the NLD.
The leader of the NLD is a woman named Aung San Suu Kyi. She is the most respected political leader in Burma, and won a nobel peace prize in 1991. While most other members of the NLD were arrested and tortured after the election in 1990, she was placed under house arrest for 6 years. She has been free since 1995, but is not allowed to join her political party.
In 1990, the National Coalition Government of the Union of Burma (NCGUB) was created. This consists of any parlimentary representatives elected in the 1990 election, that are still alive, and not imprisoned. If the NCGUB ever takes control they have principles and policies for the Burmese to follow, that will be very different from their current lifestyle. They declare that the United Nations Charter on the Universal Declaration of Human Rights will be strictly enforced, and followed. All ethnic groups will be treated equally, and peace and prosperity will prevail. To read more about the NCGUB's principles and policies, click here.
The people of Burma have held many protests to fight their oppression, all answered by the government with torture and brutality. A student protest in 1962 resulted in the deaths of 100 students, and the students' union building was destroyed. In 1988, more than 200 000 people assembled for a non- violent protest. Troops fired into the crowd and killed between 5 and 10 thousand people. For more information on the quelled uprisings in Burma, click here.
People hear so little about the terrible situations in Burma because the government is trying to keep the injustices they practice as quiet as possible. No reporters are allowed in or out, and the punishment for using a modem is 15 years imprisonment. Burma is still under military power, and conflict is still a huge part of their everyday life.