500+ Words Essay on Myanmar
Myanmar, formerly known as Burma, is a sovereign state of Southeast Asia. It is the largest country in mainland Southeast Asia, with a total area of 678,500 sq km. It is bordered by China, Thailand, India, Laos, and Bangladesh. One-third of the perimeter of the country is coastline along the Bay of Bengal and the Andaman Sea. As of 2024, Myanmar’s population is approximately 54.57 million.
The country was colonized by Britain during 1885-1948 following three Anglo-Burmese Wars (1824-1885). On 4 January 1948, the nation became an independent republic named the Union of Burma. However, unlike most other former British colonies and overseas territories, it did not become a member of the Commonwealth. A bicameral parliament was formed, consisting of a Chamber of Deputies and a Chamber of Nationalities. Multi-party elections were held in the 1950s and 1960s.
On March 2, 1962, the military, led by General Ne Win, took control of Burma through a coup. Between 1962 and 1974, Burma was ruled by a revolutionary council headed by the General. Almost all spheres of the nation, such as business, media, production, etc., were nationalized or brought under government control under the Burmese Way of Socialism. The 1974 constitution established the Socialist Republic of the Union of Burma, and the country was ruled by the Burma Socialist Programme Party (BSPP) as a one-party state.
The economic mismanagement and political repression during this period led to widespread poverty and discontent. In 1988, massive protests erupted across the country, demanding political and economic reforms. The military responded with brutal force, resulting in thousands of deaths and arrests. The State Law and Order Restoration Council (SLORC) took control and promised democratic reforms.
The military government finalized plans for the People’s Assembly Election on 31 May 1989. The State Law and Order Restoration Council changed the country’s official name from the ‘Socialist Republic of the Union of Burma’ to the ‘Union of Myanmar’ in 1989. In May 1990, the government held free elections for the first time in almost 30 years, and the National League for Democracy (NLD), the party of Aung San Suu Kyi, won 392 out of a total of 489 seats. Aung San Suu Kyi was Burma’s most prominent human rights activist and won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1991. However, the military junta refused to transfer power and continued to rule the country.
In the election of 2010, the military-backed Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) declared that it had been favoured by 80% of votes. It was disputed by the opposition groups that the military regime was engaged in rampant fraud to achieve such a result. At last, the military junta was dissolved on 30 March 2011. The impact of the post-election reforms could be observed in numerous areas, such as the release of pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi from house arrest, the establishment of the National Human Rights Commission, the granting of general amnesties for more than 200 political prisoners, etc. In the by-election on 1 April 2012, the NLD won 43 out of 45 seats in which, for the first time, international representatives were allowed to monitor the voting process. In the 2015 general elections, the NLD won a majority of seats, and Aung San Suu Kyi assumed a leading role in the government. Naypyidaw is now the capital city of Myanmar.
The military retains substantial power, and ethnic conflicts persist in various regions. The Rohingya crisis, which began in 2017, has drawn international condemnation and highlighted ongoing human rights abuses. The military’s actions against the Rohingya population have been described as ethnic cleansing, leading to widespread displacement and suffering.
List of 500+ Essay Writing Topics and Ideas
However, the country is still one of the poorest nations in Southeast Asia, suffering from earlier decades of political and economic mismanagement and isolation. The national currency is the Kyat, with a dual exchange rate system similar to Cuba’s. In 2010-11, Bangladesh exported products worth $9.65 million to Myanmar against its import of $179 million. In recent years, both China and India have strengthened ties with Myanmar for economic transactions. Many nations, including Canada and the European Union, have imposed investment and trade sanctions on Myanmar. The United States had banned all imports and exports to and from Myanmar but granted sanctions relief in 2012. Foreign investments come primarily from China, Singapore, the Philippines, Thailand, and India.
The major agricultural product is rice, which covers about 60% of the country’s total cultivated land area. Myanmar is also the world’s second-largest producer of opium and is a major source of illegal drugs. It produces precious stones such as rubies, sapphires, pearls, and jade. Other industries include textiles, wood products, oil, and gas.
It is a multi-religious country with Buddhism, Christianity, Islam, and Hinduism. The mother tongue and official language is Burmese, and the lingua franca is English.
The general state of healthcare in Myanmar is poor. The government spends only 0.5 to 3% of the country’s GDP on healthcare. HIV/AIDS is a disease of concern and is most prevalent among sex workers and intravenous drug users.