MILNET Brief   Myanmar (Burma), Update, September, 2007 "Americans are outraged by the situation in Burma, where a military junta has imposed a 19-year reign of fear...Basic freedoms of speech, assembly and worship are severely restricted. Ethnic minorities are persecuted. Forced child labor, human trafficking and rape are common." - President George W. Bush, Before the United Nations, September, 2007 1

Burma (Myanmar)   (map)

2007 Violence Headline Search  |  2002 Update on Recent Events  |  Terrorism

Perched on the eastern border of India's remote eastern province that sandwiches in Bangladesh, Mynamar (Burma) is a former British protectorate.  The site may English battles with indigenous nomads and desert tribes, the country was finally granted independence in 1974.  However, military juntas have marked the history since then and the new constitution remains unfinished.  Presently the military holds power while the elected government is held incommunicado including nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi.   also goes by the name Myanmar.
The country labor force focuses agriculture 65%, industry 10%, services 25%, with exports of pulses and beans, prawns, fish, rice;  teak, and opiates. Imports are typical western manufactured goods such as machinery, transport equipment, construction materials, and of course food products.

The Myanmar Army, Navy, Air Force is manned by men and woman above the age of 18, however current figures for the actual manpower on active duty is not available, with 10s of millions of men and women of an age appropriate for service.

Myanmar's national focus is occasionally interrupted by minor border disputes with Thailand, however the major problem is that is the world's second largest opium producer (after Afghanistan whose production has dropped recently for obvious reasons).  Like other drug producing nations, lacks the governmental strength (intestinal fortitude) to make the tough decisions to end the very prolific trade.  Money laundering and production of meth amphetamines are major drug trade byproducts.

Another major problem is tensions in between Hindus and Muslims.  As one might expect given radical Muslim activities worldwide, the relatively peaceful Hindu population has reacted to Muslim intolerance to another religion in their midst.  Organized Islamic terrorist groups receive funds for outside sources including many believe Al-Qaida.

World pressure on to release Aung San Suu Kyi have led to some small amount of freedom for her,  however the military rule has continued and her followers are harassed and occasionally are subject to beatings.  The number of followers is small enough that the military, so far has kept a fairly stable government, albeit cruel and oppressive.

Fall 2007 Summary:

Beginning in early spring of 2007, Budhist monks continued their protests against the brutal regime and began to take their protest to the streets.  In September of 2007, the monks tooks steps that essentially threatened the equivalent of ex-communicating the soldiers in Myanmar. 

Key western figures (US and EU) have called for the military junta to provide a plan to turn over control to the democratically elected government which has been delayed for nearly a decade.  Recently calls for U.N. sanctions have moved up to the top of the list of considerations at the U.N., however movement on these has been somewhat slow.  - United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Louise Arbour warned Myanmar's military rulers on Wednesday that they could face tough economic sanctions and international court tribunals over their actions against anti-government protestors.  "The use of excessive force and all forms of arbitrary detention of peaceful protesters are strictly prohibited under international law,"

The current protests by the monks threatens to spread into popular revolt, and the major concern is over the potential for horrendous bloodshed as the people take to the streets to suppor the monks.  Approximately 9 people were killed on September 27 as soldiers fired into huge crowds, and the fear is that incidences like that may spur increased violence from the crowds and responding escalation from the military.

MILNET Recent Historical Analysis

Critical Events In Myanmar - 1990

According to a recent Reuters article on the situation,

"Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy (NLD) won Myanmar's last election in 1990 by a landslide,  but the military government refused to hand over power. Myanmar has faced international isolation and economic sanctions over its human rights record and its treatment of Suu Kyi and the NLD. "¹

• May 5, 2002 - Just before dawn, a government announcement claimed a series of what seemed to be innocuous changes, however included a statement that all citizens could participate in the political process. The U.S. ambassador, keying in on this phrase asked for clarification. Some five hours later, the Ambassador received confirmation that Aung San Suu Kyi (Kyi is pronounced CHEE) would be free from two years of house arrest. By early morning, cameras followed the elected leader through the streets as she left her home for the first time in almost two years. Government officials announced there were no unreasonalble limits on her political activities.
• April 30, 2002 - Speculation mounts in Myanmar over Suu Kyi's release, ending house arrest since September 2000.
• April 30, 2002 - Thai troops and Myanmar Wa exchange mortar fire across the border
• April 27, 2002 - Thai troops clash with ethnic Wa  forces from Myanmar, 10 killed, perhaps one being son of drug lord Wei Hsueh-kang.
• April 26, 2002 - U.N. Envoy Razali Ismail is hopeful that a  resolution between military junta and opposition forces led by Aung San Suu Kyi is near.
• April 24, 2002 - Remnants of Jewish Diaspora fade in Myanmar -- over 2000 Jews were forced out in 1964 by military dictator Ne Win.
• April 17, 2002 - Singapore, Japan and South Korea protest Myanmar Trade Ban, strong pressure to reverse decision.
• April 15, 2002 - A blast in a Myanmar town near the Thai border kills five, explosion blamed on the  Democratic Karen  Buddhist Army, a guerrilla group allied to the military government of Myanmar
• April 3, 2002 - Relatives of former dictator Ne Wan were arrested in a plot began last month to overthrow the current military government.  Arrested were son-in-law Aye Zaw Win and daughter Sandar.

Terrorist Groups Active in Myanmar

The terrorist groups active in Myanmar are:

• Myanmar Dissidents- unnamed, small number.  Took over a hospital in Ratchaburi province in Thailand in January of 2000 as well as the Burmese Embassy in 1999.
• Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) - Sri Lankian separatist group, has used Thailand for a base form some time.  In June of 2000 a partially constructed submersible was discovered and it was soon found to be have been financed by LTTE members.  A Canadian paper uncovered front company in Thailand producing arms for the LTTE.
• United Wa State Army (UWSA) - Myanmar (Burmese) guerillas who deal in drugs throughout Southeast Asia.  The group signed a cease-fire with the Myanmar  government and now enjoys virtual autonomy in eastern Myanmar.  On April 27, 2002, Thai troops, supported by helicopter gun ships, clashed with ethnic-Wa  guerrillas from Myanmar after two of the fighters were captured inside Thailand. Ten Wa soldiers were  killed in the fighting.
• Democratic Karen Buddhist Army (DKBA) - A violent and criminal religious based  group wishing for a Buddhist cleric government, known for activities at the  border between Thailand and Burma, including extortion, smuggling and illegal logging. On April 15, 2002, five were killed in Thailand, when a grenade was tossed from a rickshaw.  On January 31, 1997, 7000 men and women were left homeless from raids on refugee camps in Huay Kalok, Thailand.
• Karen National Union (KNU)- A violent and criminal religious based  group countering the Democratic Karen Buddhist Army, known for activities at the  border between Thailand and Burma, including extortion, smuggling and illegal logging.   In 1997 the group was the Karen National Union and had announced plans to blow up a Thailand-natural gas pipeline, at that time led by Gen. Bo Mya.

1. Bush Vows to Tighten Sanctions on Myanmar, Steven Lee Myes and Christine Hauser, International Herald Tribune, 9/25/2007
2. U.N. rights chief warns Myanmar leaders on violence, Reuters, 9/26/2007