Burma gained independence from British colonial rule in 1948 largely influenced by a group of Burmese nationalists known as the ’30 Comrades’ led by General Aung San, who joined the Japanese forces in driving out the British at the outbreak of World War II. However the Burmese Army switched sides in mid-1945 and aided U.S. and British forces in their drive to Rangoon against the Japanese. After the war, the Burmese, with General Aung San at the helm, demanded complete political and economic independence from Britain. Despite this, General Aung San never had the full support of all national leaders at the time and was assassinated by rebels six months before reaching complete independence.
Under British colonial rule, Burma was the richest country in Southeast Asia thanks to an abundance of natural resources. However years of mismanagement by post-independence governments has led the country to become one of the poorest nations in the world. In 1962 General Ne Win seized power in a military coup under his Burma Socialist Program Party (BSPP). Shortly after he came into power, the economy faltered and speaking out against the regime was punishable. On August 8, 1988 thousands of people joined student led protests demanding that the BSPP step aside in favor of an elected civilian government. Known as the ’8888 uprising’, the military responded by firing into the crowds of people, alleging Communist infiltration, and killing thousands.
In September 1988 the military rulers rebranded themselves as the State Law and Order Restoration Council (SLORC) but continued to suppress demonstrations and jail political activists. They promised elections but declared martial law in 1989 arresting thousands of civilians, students and politicians including the National League for Democracy (NLD) leader Aung San Suu Kyi, (General Aung San’s daughter). Today there are still over 2,000 political prisoners inside Burma’s prisons. In May 1990 the military government finally held an election and the NLD won 80 percent of the vote however, the government ignored the result and refused to hand over power.
In September 2007 economic desperation was the trigger for the peaceful uprising that would come to be known as ‘The Saffron Revolution.’ The military government, now known as the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC), increased fuel prices as much as 500% overnight, with food and other commodities’ prices following suit, leaving millions of people across the country unable to afford food, travel and pay for education. Thousands of Buddhist monks participated in peaceful protests on the streets of major cities overturning their alms bowls, considered an act of defiance, and were soon joined by pro-democracy activists, students, nuns, and local residents. Thousands of demonstrators from all walks of life poured onto the streets across Burma, demanding political and economic reforms from the military government. Once again, soldiers opened fire on the crowds, killing at least nine unarmed protesters, and arrested hundreds of people, including monks.
Only time will tell how the results of the most recent November 2010 election will affect the people of Burma and whether problems can be resolved. The military-backed Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) won the election, however many Burmese and various foreign observers have questioned the fairness of the elections and the intentions of the new ‘civilian’ government.