Overview
Burma, also known as Myanmar, is ruled by a military junta which suppresses almost all dissent and wields absolute power in the face of international condemnation and sanctions. The generals and the army stand accused of gross human rights abuses, including the forcible relocation of civilians and the widespread use of forced labour, which includes children.
Map
Facts
| Official name | Union of Myanmar |
|---|---|
| Population: | 50 million (UN, 2009) |
| Capital: | Nay Pyi Taw |
| Largest city: | Rangoon (Yangon) |
| Area: | 676,552 sq km (261,218 sq miles) |
| Major languages: | Burmese, indigenous ethnic languages |
| Major religions: | Buddhism, Christianity, Islam |
| Life expectancy: | 59 years (men), 63 years (women) (UN) |
| Monetary unit: | 1 kyat = 100 pyas |
| Main exports: | Teak, pulses and beans, prawns, fish, rice, opiates, oil and gas |
| GNI per capita: | not available |
| Internet domain: | .mm |
| International dialling code: | +95 |
Sport
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Tuesday's gossip column03 Nov 09 | GossipIn Burma it means unbreakable, in Nigeria it can mean love, in Japan it translates as the ocean and in Chinese Mandarin it means victory. In ancient Persian it means Great King and in Scandinavia it can mean keeper of the keys. Sunderland...
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Kano Pillars eye Heartland upset09 Oct 09 | Africansaid a coach who has also worked in India, Myanmar, Romania and Libya. Pillars, shock qualifiers for the group phase at the expense of six-time champions and hot 2009 title favourites Al Ahly of Egypt, were buried by a first-half goal avalanche.
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Results - Monday 11 August24 Aug 08 | Olympics
China, United States, Czech Republic Women's double sculls final B current qualifiers: Ukraine, Australia, Romania, Italy Women's single sculls semi-final C/D 1 qualifiers: Zimbabwe, Brazil, Spain, Cuba, Argentina, South Korea Women's single sculls semi-final C/D 2 qualifiers: Myanmar,...
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Champions League final as it happened21 May 08 | EuropeAbout that delayed flight at Gatwick - it's now been cancelled, which makes Gatwick probably the worst place in the whole world to be at this particular moment in time after Burma and Sichuan province in China. 1300: Well, well, well, some of you did get out of bed the wrong side this morning.
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Christie urges athletes to focus16 Feb 08 | AthleticsIn my mind, China has an indifferent political record internationally, be it in Darfur, Burma, or many other nations in Africa they do business with," he told BBC Sport. "This,...
Knowledge
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Religion & Ethics - Theravada Buddhism: TheravadaReligion & Ethics
10 October 2009 » » Theravada Buddhism Theravada Buddhism Theravada Buddhism is strongest in Sri Lanka, Cambodia, Thailand, Laos and Burma (Myanmar). It is sometimes called 'Southern Buddhism'. The...
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Religion & Ethics - Theravada Buddhism: TheravadaReligion & Ethics
Theravada Buddhism is strongest in Sri Lanka, Cambodia, Thailand, Laos and Burma (Myanmar). It is sometimes called Southern Buddhism and is one of the largest subdivisions of Buddhism.
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History - World Wars: Burma CampaignHistory
Accessibility links Burma Campaign By Bruce Robinson Last updated 2009-11-05 Theatre: South East Asia Dates: December 1941 to May 1945 Location: Burma (now also known as Myanmar) Outcome:...
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Radio 4 - The Material WorldRadio 4
A week before a fierce tropical cyclone hit Burma (Myanmar). Hundreds of thousands of lives were lost and many more are in peril from the after effects. Can...
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History - British History in depth: The BritishHistory
A series of intermittent wars was beginning which would take British authority over the next fifty years up to the mountains of Afghanistan in the west and into Burma in the east. Find out more Books Indian Society and the Making of the British Empire in The New Cambridge History of India (vol.
News
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Money for Mekong River nations07 Nov 09The projects include developing ports, airports and power lines in Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, Laos and Burma. Melanie Wray reports.
Watch " Money for Mekong River nations " now -
Japan hosts Mekong River leaders06 Nov 09 | Asia-PacificJapan's Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama is to meet his counterparts from Cambodia, Laos, Burma, Thailand and Vietnam for the two-day meeting. Japanese officials said the meeting would also spur dialogue with Burma.
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Burmese army targets India rebels06 Nov 09 | South AsiaBurma's military junta has been under Indian diplomatic pressure to launch assaults against northeast Indian rebel bases in its territory for some time now. But the junta has cited counter-insurgency commitments elsewhere in the country for not starting an offensive against these bases located...
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US diplomats meet Burmese leaders04 Nov 09The visit comes weeks after the US announced it would engage with Burma's military junta in an attempt to promote reform. Rachel Harvey reports from Bangkok.
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US diplomats meet Burmese leaders04 Nov 09 | Asia-PacificThe visit comes weeks after the US announced it would engage with Burma's military junta in an attempt to promote reform. But the US envoys are not meeting Burma's top leader, General Than Shwe.
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US diplomats seek facts in Burma03 Nov 09 | Asia-PacificBurma has been ruled by its military since 1962 Two senior US officials have begun a fact-finding visit to Burma. Assistant Secretary of State Kurt Campbell and deputy Scot Marciel hope to hold talks with the ruling junta and pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi.
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Is Burma softening its stance?29 Oct 09 | Asia-Pacific
Despite worldwide indignation, Ms Suu Kyi is still under house arrest This month Burma's pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi passed two milestones. The first was 14 years - that is the amount of time she has now spent in detention during the past two decades.
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Suu Kyi 'has immense optimism'09 Oct 09The British ambassador in Burma has met with the opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi. Miss Suu Kyi was recently sentenced to 18 months house arrest for breaching the terms of her detention.
Listento " Suu Kyi 'has immense optimism' " now -
Burma's junta frees prisoners18 Sep 09Political prisoners were among those released by Burma's military rulers on Friday. The junta was marking 21 years since it seized power in the country.
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Push for coca leaf legal goods18 Sep 09The US State Department has accused Bolivia, Venezuela and Burma with failing to do enough to fight the drug trade. But in Bolivia - despite harsh criticisms that more coca will inevitably mean more cocaine - there are moves to encourage more legal products made from the leaves.
Watch " Push for coca leaf legal goods " now
Weather
Weather for Rangoon
| Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Conditions |  sunny | sunny | sunny |
| Max Temperature | Max:32°C/90°F | Max:31°C/88°F | Max:31°C/88°F |
| Min Temperature | Min:23°C/73°F | Min:24°C/75°F | Min:26°C/79°F |
Blogs
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Yours truly...07 Nov 09 | Jennifer Tracey - iPM
...that our Generals were having a conference with the Japanese General Staff as to terms of surrender, but urging the boys to go back to the front lines and fight on until we know our ultimate fate' He was interned by the Japanese later at the infamous Changi jail and working on the Burma Railway...
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Anonymous on the internet25 Aug 09 | Rory Cellan-Jones - dot.life
But - as recent events in places from Iran to Burma to China have shown - for some people online anonymity can be a matter of life and death." What I didn't discuss is an issue that sometimes occupies the writers of this and other BBC blogs - who exactly are the respondents who contribute their...
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Burma: Are there signs of change?12 Aug 09 | Alistair Burnett - The Editors
Western governments - including the UK and the rest of the EU - were quick to condemn the verdict and threatened to impose more sanctions on Burma. A move welcomed by human rights groups.
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Tuesday 11 August 200911 Aug 09 | Len Freeman - Newsnight: From the web team
Tonight we'll discuss whether this is a turning point for Burma, or business as usual for the Generals. "I...
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What next in Burma?17 Jul 09 | Robin Lustig - World Tonight
Remember Burma? Remember those protests nearly two years ago by thousands of saffron-robed Buddhst monks, protesting against a dictatorial military government?
Around the web
News From Other Sources
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US-ASEAN summit: Obama engagement in action09 Nov 09 | Philippine Daily Inquirer
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Myanmar top leader to visit Sri Lanka09 Nov 09 | People's Daily Online
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Talking to Burma08 Nov 09 | Financial Times
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Myanmar urged to free Suu Kyi07 Nov 09 | The News International
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Manila lacks leverage with Burma07 Nov 09 | Japan Times
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