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Some facts about Burma
COUNTRY NAME: Burma – used by the democracy movement, Myanmar – used by the military regime
POPULATION: 48 – 58 million (note: statistical data from state sources is notoriously unreliable)
ETHNICITY: Burman 68%, Shan 9%, Karen 7%, Mon 4%, Rakhine 3%, Chin 3%, Kachin 2%, Karenni 1%, other 2%
RELIGION: Buddhist 89%, Muslim 5%, Christian 4%, other 2%
GOVERNMENT SPENDING: Military – 40%, Health and education – 1.4%
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POLITICAL HISTORY
| 1948 | Independence from Britain |
| 1962 | Military coup led by General Ne Win |
| 1988 | Massive pro-democracy demonstrations; army crackdown with more than 3,000 people killed. General Ne Win resigns and is replaced by a new military junta. |
| 1989 | Aung San Suu Kyi, leader of the National League for Democracy, is placed under house arrest. |
| 1990 | Junta calls a snap election. The National League for Democracy wins 81% of seats but is denied power. Many elected members of parliament are arrested and jailed. |
| 1991 | Aung San Suu Kyi, still under house arrest, is awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. |
| 1994-95 | More than 100,000 refugees flee to Thailand, escaping army offensives in the eastern states. |
| 2007 | Demonstrators peacefully protest conditions in the country. Army violently suppresses and thousands are arrested and jailed; an unknown number are killed. |
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