Myanmar?Myanmar?Burma?Burma?

Hannah Spielberg, Ryan Lutz, Hannah Spielberg, Ryan Lutz, Allie Chierici, Stephen Neely, Allie Chierici, Stephen Neely,

and Katie Stutz and Katie Stutz

Where is It?Where is It?

Indian Ocean- primary source Indian Ocean- primary source of trade and travelof trade and travelChina- supports Myanmar’s China- supports Myanmar’s oppressive military oppressive military government because it wants government because it wants access to Indian Oceanaccess to Indian OceanValuables-mineral resources- Valuables-mineral resources- one of world’s biggest one of world’s biggest suppliers of gemstonessuppliers of gemstonesDrug trade- major exporter of Drug trade- major exporter of methamphetamine, world’s 2methamphetamine, world’s 2ndnd biggest producer of heroin and biggest producer of heroin and opium opium

Borderlessbikers.com

Glossary of TermsGlossary of Termsjuntajunta – the repressive military regime currently – the repressive military regime currently leading Myanmar; received power after 1988 leading Myanmar; received power after 1988 coupcoup

coup d'état –coup d'état – when a small group of people (often when a small group of people (often previously in power) overthrow the governmentpreviously in power) overthrow the government

The Association of Southeast Nations/ASEAN –The Association of Southeast Nations/ASEAN –ASEAN now mainly focuses on economic ASEAN now mainly focuses on economic concerns and international stability for the concerns and international stability for the regional economy. Myanmar originally helped regional economy. Myanmar originally helped form ASEAN in 1967 to support the U.S. war in form ASEAN in 1967 to support the U.S. war in Vietnam. Myanmar joined ASEAN in 1997.Vietnam. Myanmar joined ASEAN in 1997.

BuddhismBuddhism – major world religion especially – major world religion especially prevalent in Asian nations; based on idea of prevalent in Asian nations; based on idea of striving to escape worldly suffering until one striving to escape worldly suffering until one achieves ultimate enlightenment of wisdom and achieves ultimate enlightenment of wisdom and compassion, or “nirvana”; Buddhists believe that compassion, or “nirvana”; Buddhists believe that all creatures “reincarnate,” or are born all creatures “reincarnate,” or are born repeatedly, until they attain nirvana. repeatedly, until they attain nirvana. **Buddhist Buddhist monks have moral authority in Myanmar, which is why their monks have moral authority in Myanmar, which is why their protests have led to so much unrest.protests have led to so much unrest.

BurmaBurma – another name for Myanmar; people who – another name for Myanmar; people who do not support the current regime in Myanmar do not support the current regime in Myanmar choose to call the country Burma as a political choose to call the country Burma as a political protest against the junta, who changed the protest against the junta, who changed the country’s name when they came into powercountry’s name when they came into power Religions.iloveindia.com

BackgroundBackground

Current population- 47,373,958Current population- 47,373,958

About the size of Texas, but is the largest mainland area located in Southeast AsiaAbout the size of Texas, but is the largest mainland area located in Southeast Asia

Tropical climate- rainy and hot days throughout the summer and mild temperatures in the winter Tropical climate- rainy and hot days throughout the summer and mild temperatures in the winter 

Known to have very large earthquakes Known to have very large earthquakes   

Major diseases that affect the country are water-borne diseases such as typhoid feverMajor diseases that affect the country are water-borne diseases such as typhoid fever

Nationality of Burma- BurmeseNationality of Burma- Burmese

Legal system- based on English legal system.Legal system- based on English legal system.

Ruled by army generals since 1962Ruled by army generals since 1962

Bordered by China on its North side, Laos on its East, Thailand on its South East, Bangladesh on its West Bordered by China on its North side, Laos on its East, Thailand on its South East, Bangladesh on its West and India on the North Westand India on the North West

  Political system- under control by the State Peace and Development CouncilPolitical system- under control by the State Peace and Development Council

Listverse.com

More BackgroundMore Background

The total area of land-678,500 The total area of land-678,500 square kilometers.square kilometers.

  The first president of The first president of Independent Burma was Sao Independent Burma was Sao Shwe Thaik.Shwe Thaik.

  The first prime minister of The first prime minister of Independent Burma was U Nu.Independent Burma was U Nu.

The democratic rule ended in The democratic rule ended in 1962 when military rule took 1962 when military rule took overover

U Nu

Sjsu.edu/faculty/watkins

TimelineTimeline1948-Jan. 4th:1948-Jan. 4th: Achieve independence from Achieve independence from United KingdomUnited Kingdom1950:1950: Burma forms “Emergency Provision Burma forms “Emergency Provision Act”- Act”- 20 year jail terms for inciting unrest 20 year jail terms for inciting unrest and disturbing the peaceand disturbing the peace1962(-1988):1962(-1988): Army commander Ne Win Army commander Ne Win takes over control of Burma – takes over control of Burma – stages stages coup; throughout rule, banishes powerful coup; throughout rule, banishes powerful opponents opponents 1967:1967: Myanmar helps form the Association Myanmar helps form the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) 1974-Jan. 4th:1974-Jan. 4th: becomes the Socialist becomes the Socialist Republic of the Union of BurmaRepublic of the Union of Burma1988-Mar.:1988-Mar.: Students protest against Students protest against oppressive regime and rally for oppressive regime and rally for democracy; democracy; Burmese riot police shoot 200 Burmese riot police shoot 200 protestersprotesters1988-Jul. 27th-Aug.12th:1988-Jul. 27th-Aug.12th: Sein Lwein Sein Lwein becomes country’s president and becomes country’s president and chairman of Burma’s ruling party; chairman of Burma’s ruling party; pro-pro-democracy protests grow. Lwein attempts democracy protests grow. Lwein attempts to end protests by violent force. Resigns to end protests by violent force. Resigns two months later.two months later.1988-Sep. 18th:1988-Sep. 18th: General Saw Maung chairs General Saw Maung chairs military junta, called The State Law and military junta, called The State Law and Order Restoration Council (SLORC)Order Restoration Council (SLORC)

General Saw Maung

answers.com

Timeline ContinuedTimeline Continued1989:1989: Junta changes country name Junta changes country name from Burma to Myanmar, and capital from Burma to Myanmar, and capital city from Rangoon to Yangoncity from Rangoon to Yangon1990s:1990s: Other nations try to undermine Other nations try to undermine oppressive Myanmar regime by oppressive Myanmar regime by withdrawing financial supportwithdrawing financial support2007-Feb. 12th:2007-Feb. 12th: A human rights group A human rights group report accuses Myanmar government report accuses Myanmar government of killing, raping, and torturing ethnic of killing, raping, and torturing ethnic Karen women as part of its fight with Karen women as part of its fight with the group in the last 25 yearsthe group in the last 25 years2007-Aug. 15th:2007-Aug. 15th: Myanmar Myanmar government boosts fuel prices, raising government boosts fuel prices, raising public transportation costs and causing public transportation costs and causing staple crops to devaluestaple crops to devalue2007-Sept.:2007-Sept.: Civilians protest raised Civilians protest raised fuel prices in streets. Monks join daily fuel prices in streets. Monks join daily protests. protests. After junta use force to After junta use force to suppress protests (injuring three monk suppress protests (injuring three monk protesters), thousands of monks begin protesters), thousands of monks begin to join daily rallies.to join daily rallies.

Viewimages.com

Current ProblemCurrent ProblemIncreasing fuel pricesIncreasing fuel prices staple crop values plummetstaple crop values plummet caused riotscaused riots Very poor- can not even afford Very poor- can not even afford

higher bus fareshigher bus fares Turned into protest against gov.Turned into protest against gov. Unstable GovernmentUnstable Government National League Democracy is National League Democracy is

fighting the current regime for fighting the current regime for political controlpolitical control

Money going to:Money going to: Projects that do not benefit the Projects that do not benefit the

Burmese peopleBurmese people Building lavish citiesBuilding lavish cities A nuclear testing facilityA nuclear testing facility

……As people continue to As people continue to starve.starve.

worldhistory.abc-clio.com

Current RiotCurrent Riot

Nytimes.com graphics8.nytimes

graphics8.nytimesItn.co.uk/news

The World ViewThe World View– United StatesUnited States

Democracy advocateDemocracy advocateIn 2007, US tried to pass a In 2007, US tried to pass a Security Council resolution Security Council resolution within the UN, but was within the UN, but was vetoed by Russia and vetoed by Russia and China.China.

– UN & other organizationsUN & other organizationsTries to help Burmese Tries to help Burmese people through health and people through health and education programs along education programs along with the Red Cross and with the Red Cross and International Labor International Labor OrganizationOrganizationAfter Khin Nyunt’s fall, After Khin Nyunt’s fall, regime has been much regime has been much more uncooperativemore uncooperative

Tai-nation.org

ViolenceViolence

““Forced labor, rape, Forced labor, rape, burning of villages, burning of villages, destroying farm destroying farm implements and implements and destroying animals-many destroying animals-many of these issues have of these issues have been subject of previous been subject of previous reports.” reports.” ~Guy Horton (British ~Guy Horton (British human rights researcher)human rights researcher)

Irrawaddy.org

ViolenceViolence

““But the cumulative effect But the cumulative effect is that people cannot is that people cannot ultimately survive in these ultimately survive in these conditions. People are conditions. People are not fleeing mass killings, not fleeing mass killings, as in Rwanda. They are as in Rwanda. They are fleeing a situation that is fleeing a situation that is deliberately depriving deliberately depriving them of the resources them of the resources indispensable for indispensable for survival.” survival.” ~Guy Horton (British ~Guy Horton (British human rights researcher)human rights researcher)

Telegraph.co.uk

ViolenceViolence

'"They are not Buddhists," '"They are not Buddhists," cried one student, who cried one student, who clutched half a brick in his clutched half a brick in his hand, running from the smoke. hand, running from the smoke. ‘They are not humans. We ‘They are not humans. We were praying peacefully and were praying peacefully and they beat us. They beat the they beat us. They beat the monks, even the old ones.’ An monks, even the old ones.’ An 80-year-old monk stood with 80-year-old monk stood with the student, bleeding from a the student, bleeding from a baton gash on his shaven baton gash on his shaven head. ” head. ” ~Time.com ~Time.com

Boston.com

““You need to look very carefully at the You need to look very carefully at the underlying political and economic underlying political and economic hardships,” he said he told the official. “The hardships,” he said he told the official. “The government must also understand what this government must also understand what this is about — not fuel prices, but decades of is about — not fuel prices, but decades of dissatisfaction.” dissatisfaction.”

~Mark Canning, British ambassador ~Mark Canning, British ambassador

Nytimes.com

BibliographyBibliography

Worldhistory.abc-clio.com Worldhistory.abc-clio.com

Edition.cnn.comEdition.cnn.com

Timelines.ws/countries/BURMA.html Timelines.ws/countries/BURMA.html

Telegraph.co.uk Telegraph.co.uk

Nytimes.comNytimes.com

usinfo.state.govusinfo.state.gov