History

Burmans first settled in the area during the 9th century and had established a powerful kingdom by the 11th century. During the Mongol invasions the country was captured byKublai Khan (1287) and subsequently Burma became divided. By the mid-18th century a new dynasty was established with its capital in Yangon.

In 1824, the British annexed Burma as part of British India. In 1937 it was granted separate dominion status. The Japanese expelled the British from Burma during World War II. They tried to co-opt Burmese political support by offering nominal independence under Japanese control. This started the independence movement led by Aung San as the Burmese opposed Japanese rule. When the Japanese were defeated in 1944, Aung San led the way to independence in 1948 but was assassinated the same year.

In 1988 years of chronic economic mismanagement by the Socialist Programme Party brought on a popular uprising, with students and Buddhist monks to the fore. A military coup in September, followed by the bloody suppression of the demonstrations, brought the political upheaval to a halt. Rather than leading to the deposition of Ne Win it actually strengthened his position within the country. Ne Win has recently relinquished his official titles as leader of the nation but he continues to exercise considerable influence over the running of the country. The major armed threat is posed by a number of border groups, the largest being the Karen tribe whose ranks have been swelled by dissident students fleeing from the capital.

After crushing domestic political opposition, the Ne Win junta decided to calm international opinion. So in 1989 that some political concessions were made with the announcement that there would be elections. In addition Burma became officially known as the Union of Myanmar.

The main opposition movements campaigned under the banner of the National League for Democracy, led by Aung San Suu Kyi. They won the 1990 election but the regime held onto power using various delaying tactics and Suu Kyi was put under house arrest for five years.

But Aung San Suu Kyi, the main opponent of the regime remained a major thorn in it’s side during the 1990’s and assisted in making the regime an international pariah. In 2000, she was put under house arrest, released and then again arrested and jailed in 2003. In 2009, she was placed in a Rangoon prison for allegedly breaching the terms of her house arrest despite international condemnation.

The country’s turmoils continued with the 2007 Saffron Revolution in which monks and civilians were beaten, killed or arrested during anti-government protests. Elections in February 2011 saw Thein Sein of the Union Solidarity and Development Party elected as President of Myanmar.

Potentially Myanmar is a rich country, but the economy has never thrived – in fact it is to this day one of the least developed in the world. Livestock and fishing is the largest sector, but it is still using traditional non-mechanised systems.

With a history of poor health care, human rights violations and political instability, the Burmese people have suffered more than their fair share. However the remain one of the most considerate and welcoming of peoples, making travel to this country a delight, whatever its past may be.