Burma: the Basics

BURMA: a beautiful but little-known country in south-east Asia

5,000 miles from Britain, it has borders with five countries and the Indian Ocean

Burma’s cities – including the capital Rangoon (Yangon) – lie on the great plains; these are

surrounded by mountains and jungle

TeenagersThe streets of the capital are as busy

and diverse as any country

Music - KaraokeMany people from Burma love Karaoke

River - IrawaddyThe huge Irawaddy river runs

through Burma from north to south

Rice is the staple food; curry is

eaten daily

Food in Burma is cooked fresh and fast

Cafes Burma has a strong culture of tea shops and cafes.

The people of Burma are massively

diverse in terms of ethnicity and language. Many minority groups

live in the mountainous

areas above the plains.

In religious terms, most people in

Burma are Buddhist, some are Christian or Muslim

Weather – kids & monsoonsThe monsoon season brings with it torrential

rains and flooding everywhere.

Burma is poor

Most people in Burma are poor; the World Food Program estimates over a third of

children don’t get the food they need

History: colonial rule by BritainFrom the late 1800s to 1948

Burma used to be one of Britain’s colonies

The military have governed Burma since 1962 when they took over to bring stability

to the country after independence.

FreedomsThe military sees itself as the saviour

and friend of the people of Burma

Aung San Suu Kyi was elected leader of Burma in 1990 but was never allowed to govern.

She has been under house arrest for 15 of the last 20 years.

Recently she was released again.

A bookseller in Burma. Books critical of the government or supportive of democracy are banned.

Education in Burma is very basic. There

are a few universities, which are sometimes shut down because of student activity.

People who record footage of dissent risk arrest by the military

Some of those who provided footage for the film‘Burma VJ’ are now in prison

Amnesty International and the Burma Campaign UK estimate 2,200 people remain in Burma’s prisons

because of their beliefs.

Independence – Ne WinMany of the minority ethnic groups in

Burma have been forced to flee as refugees

Many now live in refugee camps on Burma’s borders

Monks In 2007 Burmese monks led protests against

the Military, which brought worldwide attention.

heatThe protests were

stopped by the Military.

Some ‘western’ countries still invest in Burma,

though many

companies have pulled out due to pressure

from campaign

groups

Travel & Tourism

Many celebrities have taken up the cause of the people of Burma

Burma in numbers...