Myanmar (Burma)

Country Profile: Myanmar (Burma)

Executive Summary

Burma, known alternatively as Myanmar, is a state mired in a history of political isolation. This lack of dialogue between the civilian population and the government led to a series of oppressive leaders under the cloak of the state’s military. Although multiple political groups and more hostile terror organizations operate in Burma on the principle of securing ethnic representation or deposing the given leadership, efforts to reform the political realm in recent years have halted much of this aggression.

Brief History

The area now known as Burma was formerly an amalgam of smaller city-states and kingdoms made up of ethnic minorities. For the majority of the 19th century, Burma was enveloped into the expanding Indian Empire of Great Britain. It was not until 1937 that Burma became a self-governing region, separate from its prior Indian provincial status. Just over a decade later, Burma claimed its full independence. A period a governance under General Ne Win ensued beginning in 1962 that saw a transition of his leadership status from military ruler, to self-appointed president, and to then essentially that of a political kingpin. After a military coup in 1988 ousted Ne Win, the ruling junta essentially neutralized the outcome of legislative elections two years later by placing the ruler of the opposition under house arrest. It would not be until May 1998 that another open vote would be held in the state, in this instance a constitutional referendum.

Political Structure

Political Parties: All Mon Region Democracy Party (AMRDP), National Democratic Force (NDF), National League for Democracy (NLD), National Unity Party (NUP), Rakhine Nationalities Development Party (RNDP), Shan Nationalities Democratic Party, Shan Nationalities League for Democracy (SNLD), Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP); numerous smaller parties

Political System: Burma has a nominally civilian parliamentary government, which took power in March 2011. Its newly instated bicameral legislative branch consists of the House of Nationalities and the House of Representatives. Both of these bodies are made up of members that are selected to serve five-year terms partially through popular vote, but also through military appointment. Executive control of the government is given to the President, who serves as chief of state and head of government. The President is elected by Parliament.

Political Conflicts: In 1990, the main opposition party to the ruling junta, the National League for Democracy, won in a landslide vote in multiparty legislative elections. Nevertheless, the junta placed Aung San Suu Kyi, the NLD leader, under house arrest from 1989 to 1995, 2000 to 2002, and again from May 2003 to November 2010. In late September 2007, the ruling junta brutally suppressed protests led by pro-democracy activists and Buddhist monks over increased fuel prices, killing at least 13 people and arresting thousands for participating in the demonstrations.

Economic Structure

Economic System: While Burma has a generous supply of natural resources at its disposal, the state’s economy suffers from extensive government controls, inefficient economic policies, unscrupulous business practices, and rural poverty. There is little to no transparency in the inner workings of the business environment, leading to unchecked corruption and gross inefficiencies. Stagnating any economic growth among the one-third of the population that lives in poverty is the fact that wealth from country's ample natural resources is concentrated in the hands of an elite group of military leaders and business associates.

Economic Trends: Extractive industries such as oil and gas, mining, and timber will continue to be the most lucrative industries for the Burmese economy, albeit at the expense of significant environmental degradation. Certain domestic and policies that previously stifled other areas of the economy are seeing renewed liberalization. In 2011, the government took initial steps toward reforming and opening up the economy by lowering export taxes, easing restrictions on its financial sector, and reaching out to international organizations for assistance. Subsequently, international financial and economic sanctions imposed on Burma by the United States, the E.U., and Canada are being lifted.

Economic Resources: The industrial sector includes agricultural processing, the production of wood and wood products, copper, tin, tungsten, iron, cement, construction materials, pharmaceuticals, fertilizer, oil and natural gas, garments, as well as jade and gems. Exports include natural gas, wood products, pulses, beans, fish, rice, clothing, and jade and gems.

Social Structure

Religion:

Buddhist: 37,811,666 adherents (82.90% of population)
Christian: 3,970,000 adherents (8.70% of population)
Muslim: 1,733,225 adherents (3.80% of population)
Chinese: 1,368,335 adherents (3.00% of population)
Traditional ethnic: 364,889 adherents (0.80% of population)
Hindu: 228,056 adherents (0.50% of population)
Non-religious/other: 136,834 adherents (0.30% of population)

Churches:

Myanmar Baptist Convention (617,781 members)
Catholic (372,671 members)
Assemblies of God (110,000 members)
Churches of Christ (100,000 members)
Methodist (60,000 members)
Lisu Christian (35,000 members)
Church of Province of Myanmar (27,794 members)
Seventh-day Adventist (20,555 members)
Evangelical Free (12,000 members)
Presbyterian (11,785 members)
Self Support Karen Baptists (14,000 members)
Believer’s Church (15,625 members)
Christian Brethren (9,200 members)
Mara Evangelical (10,938 members)
Foursquare Gospel (6,000 members)
Jehovah’s Witnesses (2,950 members)
Full Gospel Assembly (5,000 members)
Christian Reformed (2,800 members)
Christ & Mission Alliance (1,989 members)
Other denominations (356,000 members)

Ethnicity:

Burman 68%
Shan 9%
Karen 7%
Rakhine 4%
Chinese 3%
Indian 2%
Mon 2%
Other 5%

Gender:

Overall male population: 27,133,772 (49.7%)
Overall female population :27,450,878(50.3%)
0-14 years: 27.1% (male 7,534,762/female 7,250,582)
15-24 years: 18.8% (male 5,198,588/female 5,078,286)
25-54 years: 42.5% (male 11,513,896/female 11,679,972)
55-64 years: 6.5% (male 1,673,039/female 1,868,857)
65 years and over: 5.1% (male 1,213,487/female 1,573,181) (2012 est.)

Urbanization:

Urban population: 34% of total population (2010)
Rate of urbanization: 2.9% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)
Children under the age of 5 underweight: 29.6% (2003)

Operating Organizations

Political Groups:

Thai border: Ethnic Nationalities Council (ENC), Federation of Trade Unions-Burma (FTUB) (exile trade union and labor advocates), National Coalition Government of the Union of Burma (NCGUB) (self-proclaimed government in exile) consists of individuals, some legitimately elected to the People's Assembly in 1990 (the group fled to a border area and joined insurgents in December 1990 to form a parallel government in exile); National Council-Union of Burma (NCUB) (exile coalition of opposition groups)

Inside Burma: Kachin Independence Organization (KIO); Karen National Union (KNU); Karenni National People's Party (KNPP); United Wa State Army( UWSA); 88 Generation Students (pro-democracy movement); several other Chin, Karen, Mon, and Shan factions

Note: freedom of expression has been highly restricted in Burma; the restrictions are being relaxed by the government; political groups, other than parties approved by the government, are limited in number

Terrorist, Criminal Etc: As the world’s second largest producer of illicit opium, Burma is a substantial participant in the transnational drug trade. Terrorist organizations operating in the state include the Democratic Karen Buddhist Army (DKBA), the Kayin National Union (KNU), and the National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB).

Allies and Enemies

Regional Allies: China, Sri Lanka
Regional Enemies: N/A
Global Allies: Bangladesh, India, Russia
Global Enemies: N/A

Country Trajectory

Underfunded sectors of the economy desperately need investment, from foreign sources or otherwise, in order to stimulate economic growth for the vast majority of the Burmese populace. Yet, signs of increased political openness with parliamentary debate are manifesting in the state that could lead to improved allocation of financial resources. Certain ethnic groups that were a source of violence in the region are entering preliminary peace agreements under political reforms under the newest civilian leadership. While this may be indicative of a more confident rule of law, Burma still must address members of its populace economically disaffected by years of negligence by the ruling class.

Current Events

Mar. 7th, 2013: Political reforms that are delivering greater freedom in Myanmar could falter if the authorities do not tackle some conspicuous failings, including continuing torture in prisons and discrimination against ethnic minorities, a United Nations investigator, Tomás Ojea Quintana, said in a report. Despite the progress of reforms, Quintana claims “there remains a large gap between reform at the top and implementation on the ground.”

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/03/08/world/asia/myanmar-reforms-could-falter-un-investigator-says.html?_r=0

Mar. 10th, 2013: Aung San Suu Kyi was re-elected as Myanmar opposition chief at a landmark congress that disappointed some members hoping for new blood in the wider leadership ahead of a key 2015 election. Hundreds of National League for Democracy (NLD) members gathered in Yangon for their first national conference—a display of political strength that would have been unthinkable under the former junta. The meeting highlighted the myriad challenges facing the hugely popular opposition, including its lack of experience as well as party infighting.

http://www.gulf-times.com/asean-philippines/188/details/344979/suu-kyi-re-elected-as-myanmar-opposition-leader

Sources