Conflict history: Myanmar/Burma

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Chairman of the State Peace and Development Council: Than Shwe, April 1992-

Head of Government: Than Sein, October 2007-

Myanmar (also known as Burma) gained independence from Britain 1948 and has been ruled by military in one form or another since 1962. Current regime is a military junta established in September 1988, initially known as the State Law and Order Restoration Council (SLORC), subsequently renamed the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC). August/September 1988 anti-government protests was met with a vicious military crackdown. Thousands killed, human rights activists arrested, martial law declared and imprisonment of National League for Democracy (NLD) leader (and daughter of Myanmar’s independence hero) Aung San Suu Kyi.

Since 1948, over 30 ethnic armed groups involved in insurgencies against Yangon government. But SPDC has reached ceasefire agreements with most of these, coopting their leaders through offers of economic concessions. The largest ethnic group not on ceasefire is the Karen National Union, with whom clashes continue. Military offensive 2006 against Naga and Assam rebels in north-west.

1990 multiparty elections saw decisive NLD victory, but military refused to relinquish power. Aung San Suu Kyi awarded Nobel Peace Prize 1991. Military-picked National Convention set up to write new constitution 1993. Aung San Suu Kyi released from house arrest 1995 but movements restricted; detained again in 2000. Conditions lifted periodically since, but Suu Kyi under house arrest for more than 13 out of last 19 years.

U.S. sanctions imposed 1989, tightened in 2003 and again several times since. EU and other western countries have also imposed sanctions, but China and other neighbouring countries have maintained trade relations. Sanctions and relative international isolation of Myanmar failed to achieve objective of restoring democracy. Myanmar 1997 accepted into ASEAN regional organisation; China is regime’s most important trading partner and investor, and has tended to shield the regime from international pressure.

Poor governance and widespread conflict has allowed Myanmar to become centre of drugs trade. Despite generally good relations with Thailand, tensions have risen over drug trafficking and border disputes. India has accused Myanmar’s western Sagaing state of being safe haven for insurgents in India’s north-east, and Bangladesh and Burma have experienced tension over off-shore gas exploration.

September 2007 saw largest protests against junta since 1988, and brutal government response. Initially small-scale demonstrations over rising fuel prices spread across country, with tens of thousands marching daily at peak. Violent government breakup of demonstrations from 26 September saw at least 31 deaths and 2,100 detained. ASEAN expressed “revulsion” at regime’s actions. UN efforts to encourage political dialogue and the release of political prisoners has had little success.

New constitution revealed April 2008, outlining junta’s “roadmap to democracy”, that ensures military retain power in nominally democratic system after elections in 2010. Reserves quarter of seats in parliament for military.

2 May 2008 Cyclone Nargis stuck Yangon (Rangoon) and Ayeyarwady delta; left at least 138,000 dead or missing and 800,000 displaced. International outcry over junta initially refusing access to international aid agencies and donors. However access improved significantly through June and July, with unprecedented co-operation between junta and international community. Constitutional referendum held May 2008 in immediate aftermath of Cyclone Nargis. Regime reported implausible 92.48 per cent approval on a 98.1 per cent turnout.

Humanitarian situation remains desperate. Government repression and economic mismanagement mean 90 per cent of population lives on less than 65 cents a day, and over a third of children under five are malnourished. Because of Western sanctions, Myanmar receives twenty times less aid than other least developed countries. HIV/AIDS remains a serious problem in Myanmar with rapidly growing prevalence of disease.

Updated December 2008

For further information see Crisis Group reports and briefings on Myanmar/Burma. The CrisisWatch database provides a report on monthly conflict developments for Myanmar/Burma since September 2003.