Where is it?:
With a northern end sandwiched between India and China, the country has a long coast hugging Thailand and stretching down to the tip.
Capital:
Yangon to those who call the country Myanmar; Rangoon to those who call it Burma.
National symbols:
The coat of arms features two mythical lions at either end, and a socialist-inspired cogwheel and star. The cogwheel reappears on the flag, within the blue corner on a red flag surrounded by white stars that represents the administrative divisions of the country. The national anthem is "Kaba Ma Kyei," or "Till the End of the World, Burma."
Language:
Burmese. Some minority ethnic groups use their own languages.
Population:
About 48,000,000, with a life expectancy for men of only about 60 years. About 68 percent of the population is Burmese, with numerous ethnic groups including Shan and Karen.
History:
The British Empire began wresting for control of the region in 1824, and became a self-governing colony separate from India in 1937 with independence reached in 1948. Military rule began in 1962 with a coup by Gen. Ne Win. The Union of Burma became a socialist republic in 1974. Student protests of military rule were violently crushed, as was the 8888 Uprising demanding demoncracy in 1988. Gen. Saw Maung came to power after a subsequent coup, and he established the State Law and Order Restoration Council that declared martial law and changed the country's name to Myanmar in 1989.
Economy :
The country is rich in resources, but poor in managament of these. Economic sanctions have been imposed by both the European Union and the United States in response to various attacks on pro-democracy forces. The black market -- with products smuggled into China, Thailand, and Bangladesh -- is thought to be as large as the official economy.
Military:
A military junta runs the country. Both men and women can volunteer to serve in the Army, Navy, or Air Force at age 18. Children are reportedly still forced into the military.
Type of government:
A military dictatorship currently run by Gen. Than Shwe. Personal freedoms are extremely limited. Political parties such as the National League for Democracy are tightly controlled; its leader, Nobel Peace Prize winner Aung San Suu Kyi, is under house arrest after the junta's refusal to recognize the NLD's 1990 win in parliamentary elections. The constitutional referendum put forth by the government in May 2008 -- just after Cyclone Nargis devastated the country -- banned Suu Kyi from ever holding office.
