Burma - Basic History

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Burma was a province of India until 1937 when it became a self-governing colony; independence from the Commonwealth was attained in 1948. In 1947 General Aung San met with leaders of Burmese ethnic nationalities and signed the Panglong Agreement, which would form a Federal Union of Burma granting autonomy to ethnic nationalities. However, General Aung San was assassinated with most of his cabinet before the constitution went into effect.

• Aung San’s assassination became a major impediment to peace and stability in the Union of Burma, as ethnic minorities felt their autonomy threatened as new leaders replaced the General.


• In 1962, the military staged a coup and took over the government, instituting Burmese Way to Socialism, which included expulsion of foreign investors to economically isolate the country


• Burmese economy collapsed in 1987, and protests against the military regime spurred a nationwide movement for reform


• August 8th, 1988 (known as the 8888 uprising) with Aung San Suu Kyi as prominent leader, students, professionals, and others launch uprising to end authoritarian rule. Military regime responded with brute force, killing up to 10,000 demonstrators, students, women, children


• 1990 multiparty elections were held yet the military regime ignored how Aung San Suu Kyi’s party, the National League for Democracy, won with an overwhelming majority. Regime continued to rule with an iron fist, imprisoning many would-be-elected political leaders including Aung San Suu Kyi


• As Burma’s military junta in August 2007 unexpectedly increased fuel prices by 500%, thousands of Burmese marched in protest, led by Buddhist monks and activists in what is known as the Saffron Revolution. In September 2007, the government suppressed the protests, killing at least 13 and arresting thousands of protestors. Since then, the regime has continued to raid homes, monasteries, and arrest people suspected of participating in pro-democracy protests.