burma

• former name of myanmar (union of burma), country in southeastern asia
burma, or the union of myanmar, is a country in south-east asia. it became a british colony in 1886 and was occupied by japan from 1942 to 1945. burma became independent from britain in 1948 and was a democracy until 1958 when general ne win introduced military rule for a limited period. he took control permanently in 1962. in 1974 a new constitution was introduced, under which the burma socialist programme party became the only legal political party. general ne win resigned in 1988 after nationwide protests, but the army once again took control of the country, and general saw maung became prime minister and chairman of the state law and order restoration council (slorc). one powerful fuigure who remianed in place through the transition was lieutenant general khin nyunt who as secretary (one) of slorc remains the driving force behind many of the initiatives that have been made. the new military government organized a general election in 1990. the election was won by the national league for democracy (nld), but the government ignored the result. the leader of the nld, aung san suu kyi, had been placed under house arrest in 1989 and was not allowed to form a government. in 1992 general than shwe became prime minister and chairman of slorc. burma exports teak, jade, and rubies. cannabis and opium are illegally exported. large foreign debts and high inflation are major economic problems.