Union of Myanmar

Flag Description

The Burma (Myanmar) flag was officially adopted on January 4, 1974. Red, blue and white symbolize courage, peace and purity, in that order. The flag features a socialist style symbol on the blue field.

The flag of Myanmar was adopted on January 3, 1974 upon the declaration of a socialist republic in Burma by Ne Win.
The new flag design was not radically different from the previous flag of Myanmar (then called Burma) in that both featured a red field with a blue canton in the upper corner on the hoist side. However, the imagery within the canton was changed to a cog wheel with a bushel of rice superimposed upon it. These socialist symbols stand for the workers and farmers. Surrounding this are 14 five-pointed stars that represent the administrative divisions of Myanmar. The white color symbolises purity, the blue symbolises peace and integrity, and the red symbolises courage.
It is similar to the flag of the Republic of China.
Due to the current flag's connection to the Ne Win regime, the National Coalition Government of the Union of Burma uses the historic 1948 flag of Burma as a symbol of the democracy movement of Burma.

Modern History

On 1 April 1937, Burma became a separately administered territory, independent of the Indian administration. The vote for keeping Burma in India, or as a separate colony "khwe-yay-twe-yay" divided the populace, and laid the ground work for the insurgencies to come after independence. In the 1940s, the Thirty Comrades, led by Aung San, founded the Burma Independence Army[6] The Thirty Comrades received training in Japan.

During World War II Burma became a major front in the Southeast Asian Theatre. Initially the Japanese-led Burma Campaign succeeded and the British were expelled from most of Burma, but the Allies retaliated. By July 1945 they had retaken the country. The Burmese fought for both sides in the war. Although many Burmese fought initially for the Japanese, some Burmese also served in the British Burma Army in 1941-1942. In 1943, the Chin Levies and Kachin Levies were formed in the border districts of Burma still under British control. The Burma Rifles fought as part of the Chindits under General Orde Wingate from 1943-1945. Later in the war, the Americans created American-Kachin Rangers which also fought for the Allies. Many other Burmese fought with the British Special Operations Executive. The Burma Independence Army under the command of Aung San and the Arakan National Army fought with the Japanese from 1942-1944, but rose up against the Japanese in 1945.
In 1947, Aung San became Deputy Chairman of the Executive Council of Burma, a transitional government. But in July 1947, political rivals assassinated Aung San and several cabinet members. On 4 January 1948, the nation became an independent republic, named the Union of Burma, with Sao Shwe Thaik as its first President and U Nu as its first Prime Minister. Unlike most other former British colonies, 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.[7] The geographical area Myanmar encompasses today can be traced to the Panglong Agreement, which combined Burma Proper, which consisted of Lower Burma and Upper Burma, and the Frontier Areas, which had been administered separately by the British.


The flag of the National League for Democracy is represented by a 'fighting peacock', a symbol of freedom.[9]
In 1961, U Thant, then Burma's Permanent Representative to the United Nations and former Secretary to the Prime Minister, was elected Secretary-General of the United Nations; he was the first non-Westerner to head any international organization and would serve as UN Secretary-General for ten years.[10] Among the Burmese to work at the UN when he was Secretary-General was a young Aung San Suu Kyi.
Democratic rule ended in 1962 with a military coup d'état led by General Ne Win, who ruled for nearly 26 years and pursued policies under the Burmese Way to Socialism. In 1974, the funeral of U Thant led to bloody anti-government protests.
In 1988, the 8888 Uprising pushed the country to the brink of revolution. In response, General Saw Maung staged a coup d'état. He formed the State Law and Order Restoration Council (SLORC). In 1989, martial law was declared after widespread protests. Plans for People's Assembly elections were finalised on 31 May 1989.[11]
In 1990, free elections were held for the first time in almost 30 years. The NLD, the party of Aung San Suu Kyi, won 409 out of a total 489 seats, but the election results were voided by SLORC, which refused to step down.[12] SLORC renamed Burma 'Myanmar' in the English language in 1989. Led by Than Shwe since 1992, the military regime has made cease-fire agreements with most ethnic guerrilla groups. In 1992, SLORC unveiled plans to create a new constitution through the National Convention, which began 9 January 1993.In 1997, the State Law and Order Restoration Council was renamed the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC).
On 23 June 1997, Myanmar was admitted into the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. The National Convention continues to convene and adjourn. Many major political parties, particularly the National League for Democracy, have been excluded, and little progress has been made.[13] On 27 March 2006, the military junta, which had moved the national capital from Yangon to a site near Pyinmana, officially named it Naypyidaw, meaning "seat of kings".[14] In September of 2006, The U.S. led effort to include Burma on the United Nations Security Council Agenda finally passed allowing the U.N.S.C. to discuss officially how it will deal with the human rights situation in Burma.[15] In November of 2006, the International Labor Organization announced it will be seeking charges against Myanmar over the continuous forced labour of its citizens by the military at the International Court of Justice.[16]
Background Information :

Head of State
:Senior General Than Shwe

Head of Government
:Prime Minister Lt. Gen. Soe Win

Capital
:Yangon

Land area
:676,577 sq.km

Population
:54,745 thousands (2004)

Language
:Myanmar

Religion
:Buddhism, Christianity, Islam

Member of
:ASEAN, ADB, ESCAP, ACU, FAO, IBRD, IDA, IFC, ILO, IMF, ITU, WTO, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNICEF, EALAF

Currency
:Myanmar Kyat

GDP
:US$ 9,605 million (2003) at current market prices

Major Industries
:Agro-based industries, textiles industries, steel mills

Major Exports
:Rice, teak, beans & pulses, rubber, coffee, minerals, gems marine products

Major Imports
:Power tillers, hand tractor, fertilizer, diesel oil, cement, dumper, loader and spare parts, water pumps, hydraulic excavator