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Myanmar

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Myanmar: UNHCR builds houses, peace of mind for Cyclone Nargis victims
Source: UNHCR Two years and US$8 million later, UNHCR has dramatically improved the lives of many left homeless by Myanmar's worst natural disaster.... More

Myanmar military leader tours Indian Buddhist site
Myanmar's reclusive military ruler Than Shwe toured one of Buddhism's holiest shrines Monday on a state visit to India amid protests in New Delhi and condemnation from rights groups.... More

Japan to take 32 Myanmar refugees
BANGKOK (Kyodo) Japan will allow the settlement of 32 ethnic minority Myanmar refugees now living in Thailand, sources said. The 32 people, consisting of six ethnic Karen families, will be the first refugees allowed in under the "third country" refugee resettlement program.... More

Japan to take in 32 Myanmar refugees in Thailand for resettlement
BANGKOK — The Japanese government will allow 32 ethnic minority Myanmar refugees living in Thailand to resettle in Japan, sources told Kyodo News on Monday. The 32 Myanmar nationals, consisting...... More

'Pragmatic' India hosts Myanmar's military leader
Myanmar's military ruler Than Shwe arrived in India Sunday for a state visit that underscores the growing strategic ties between the world's largest democracy and one of its most repressive regimes.... More

Myanmar Map

Latitude: 21.91397 Longtitude: 95.95622

Location:

Southeastern Asia, bordering the Andaman Sea and the Bay of Bengal, between Bangladesh and Thailand

Border Countries:

Bangladesh 193 km, China 2,185 km, India 1,463 km, Laos 235 km, Thailand 1,800 km

Terrain:

central lowlands ringed by steep, rugged highlands

Geography:

strategic location near major Indian Ocean shipping lanes

Capital:

Rangoon (Yangon)

About Myanmar

Britain conquered Burma over a period of 62 years (1824-1886) and incorporated it into its Indian Empire. Burma was administered as a province of India until 1937 when it became a separate, self-governing colony; independence from the Commonwealth was attained in 1948. Gen. NE WIN dominated the government from 1962 to 1988, first as military ruler, then as self-appointed president, and later as political kingpin. Despite multiparty legislative elections in 1990 that resulted in the main opposition party - the National League for Democracy (NLD) - winning a landslide victory, the ruling junta refused to hand over power. NLD leader and Nobel Peace Prize recipient AUNG SAN SUU KYI, who was under house arrest from 1989 to 1995 and 2000 to 2002, was imprisoned in May 2003 and subsequently transferred to house arrest. After Burma's ruling junta in August 2007 unexpectedly increased fuel prices, tens of thousands of Burmese marched in protest, led by prodemocracy activists and Buddhist monks. In late September 2007, the government brutally suppressed the protests, killing at least 13 people and arresting thousands for participating in the demonstrations. Since then, the regime has continued to raid homes and monasteries and arrest persons suspected of participating in the pro-democracy protests. The junta appointed Labor Minister AUNG KYI in October 2007 as liaison to AUNG SAN SUU KYI, who remains under house arrest and virtually incommunicado with her party and supporters.

Population:

47758180

Language:

Burmese, minority ethnic groups have their own languages

Religion:

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

Phone Service:

meets minimum requirements for local and intercity service for business and government; international service is good

Currency:

kyat (MMK)

Climate:

tropical monsoon; cloudy, rainy, hot, humid summers (southwest monsoon, June to September); less cloudy, scant rainfall, mild temperatures, lower humidity during winter (northeast monsoon, December to April)

Natural Hazards:

destructive earthquakes and cyclones; flooding and landslides common during rainy season (June to September); periodic droughts