Myanmar

The Union of Myanmar, the largest country in Southeast Asia and the 40^th largest country in the world, is bordered by China to the northeast, Laos to the east, Thailand to the southeast, Bangladesh to the west, and India to the northwest, and the Bay of Bengal to the southwest. Military junta rules the country. Naypyidaw is the capital of Myanmar. Human rights violation rates are very high and are considered to arrive at an alarming stage.

HISTORY:- The Mon people inhabited Burma around 900 BC. King Anawrahta (1044-1077) was the first prominent king of Burma. Mongolians under Kublai Khan invaded the land in the 13^th century which prompted the fall of the Bagan. The Bagan Empire was split into several kingdoms like Ava kingdom, Hanthawady Pegu kingdom, Mrauk U kingdom etc. The Taungoo Empire and Konbaung Dynasty ruled Burma from 16^th to late 19^th century. During the Anglo-Burmese War (1824 to 1826), British started expanding its colonial territory in Burma. By 1886, Burma was annexed by the British. It remained incorporated into British India until 1937, when Burma became a separate colony. During the World War II, Burma played a significant role in providing the 800-mile Burma Road to China.  In 1941, Japan invaded and captured most of Burma. The Allied forces freed most of Burma in 1945. In 1948, Burma gained independence. In 1962, democratic rule was replaced by an autocratic rule. The constitution was suspended. In 1989, the country’s name was changed into Myanmar by the military government. In 1990’s free elections, National League for Democracy won over the ruling State Law and Order Council (SLORC) but the election results were refused by SLORC.

GEOGRAPHY:- Myanmar is located at 22 00 N, 98 00 E in Southeastern Asia, capturing total 678,500 sq km area in which 657,740 sq km area is captured by land. The coastline is 1,930 km long bordering the AndamanSea and the Bay of Bengal. The lowest point is AndamanSea (0 m) and the highest point is Hkakabo Razi (5,881 m). Myanmar is mostly composed of central lowlands surrounded by steep, rugged highlands.

CLIMATE:- The climate of Myanmar is predominantly tropical monsoon with cloudy, rainy, hot, humid summers and less cloudy, moderate, scant humid winters. Southwest monsoon is responsible for the rains during the summers while the northeast monsoon is responsible for the rains in the winters.

GOVERNMENT:- Myanmar is ruled by military dictatorship. The new constitution was adopted on 30^th May 2008. The legal system is based on the English common law. The two major branches of the government are:

Executive branch comprises the Chairman of the State Peace and Development Council (chief of state), the Prime minister (head of government), and cabinet.

Legislative branch comprises the unicameral People's Assembly or Pyithu Hluttaw (485 seats).

National League for Democracy, National Unity Party, Shan Nationalities League for Democracy are the major political parties of Myanmar. Suffrage is universal at the age of 18.

Chairman of the State Peace and Development Council Senior General Than Shwe

Prime Minister                                                              Lt. Gen. Thein Sein

Minister of Foreign Affairs                                                        U Nyan Win

Chargé d' Affaires, Burmese Embassy in the United States         U Myint Lwin

Ambassador to the United Nations                                            U Kyaw Tint Swe

ADMINISTRATIVE DIVISIONS:- Myanmar is divided into 7 divisions and 7 states.

Divisions:- Ayeyarwady, Bago, Magway, Mandalay, Sagaing, Tanintharyi, and Yangon.

States:- Chin, Kachin, Kayah, Kayin, Mon, Rakhine, and Shan.

CULTURE:- Buddhist and Bamar cultures are prominent in the culture of Myanmar. The language, cuisine, music, dance and theatre of Myanmar are highly influenced by the neighbouring nations.

ECONOMY:- Myanmar is one of the poorest southeastern Asian nations. It was ranked the least developed country in 1987. It lacks adequate infrastructure for industries.

GDP/PPP (2005 est.): $76.36 billion; per capita $1,600.

Real growth rate: 1.5%.

Inflation: 25%.

Unemployment: 5%.

Arable land: 15%.

Agriculture: Rice, pulses, beans, sesame, groundnuts, sugarcane; hardwood; fish and fish products.

Labor force: 27.75 million; agriculture 70%, industry 7%, services 23% (2001).

Industries: Agricultural processing; knit and woven apparel; wood and wood products; copper, tin, tungsten, iron; construction materials; pharmaceuticals; fertilizer; cement; natural gas.

Debt - external: $7.133 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Natural resources: Petroleum, timber, tin, antimony, zinc, copper, tungsten, lead, coal, some marble, limestone, precious stones, natural gas, hydropower.

Exports: $3.111 billion f.o.b. (2004); note: official export figures are grossly underestimated due to the value of timber, gems, narcotics, rice, and other products smuggled to Thailand, China, and Bangladesh: clothing, gas, wood products, pulses, beans, fish, rice.

Imports: $3.454 billion f.o.b.; note: import figures are grossly underestimated due to the value of consumer goods, diesel fuel, and other products smuggled in from Thailand, China, Malaysia, and India (2004): fabric, petroleum products, plastics, machinery, transport equipment, construction materials, crude oil; food products.

Major trading partners: Thailand, India, China, Japan, Singapore, South Korea, Malaysia (2004).

Monetary unit: Kyat

LANGUAGE:- Burmese is the official language of the country while Jingpho, Kayah, Karen, Chin, Mon, Rakhine, Shan are also spoken by the minority ethnic groups.

CITIES:- Rangoon is the largest city of Myanmar while Naypyidaw is the capital of the nation. Other large city is Mandalay.

POPULATION:- The estimated population of the country is 7,758,181 with a growth rate of 0.8%.

Density per sq mi: 72

Literacy rate: 83% (1995 est.).

RACE:- Burman 68%, Shan 9%, Karen 7%, Rakhine 4%, Chinese 3%, Indian 2%, Mon 2%, other 5%

RELIGION:- Buddhist 89%, Christian 4% (Baptist 3%, Roman Catholic 1%), Muslim 4%, animist 1%, other 2%

HEALTH:-

Birth rate: 17.23 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Death rate: 9.23 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Infant mortality rate: total: 49.12 deaths/1,000 live births

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 62.94 years

Total fertility rate: 1.92 children born/woman (2008 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths: 20,000 (2003 est.)

Total expenditure on health per capita (Intl $, 2005): 38

UNICEF:- UNICEF fights against HIV. 96% of children received vitamin-A supplements, 144,000 households received mosquito nets. UNICEF trains thousands of teachers and social workers and tries to improve water and sanitation systems. UNICEF also focuses to reduce forced labour, human trafficking, and child labour in Myanmar.

TRANSPORTATION:-

Railways: total: 3,955 km (2002).

Highways: total: 28,200 km; paved: 3,440 km; unpaved: 24,760 km (1996 est.). Waterways: 12,800 km.

Ports and harbors: Bassein, Bhamo, Chauk, Mandalay, Moulmein, Myitkyina, Rangoon, Akyab (Sittwe), Tavoy.

 Airports: 80 (2002).