Current Issues in Refugee Education

The Aggression of the Military Government


"Myanmar, also known as Burma, was long considered a pariah state while under the rule of an oppressive military junta from 1962 to 2011." —​ BBC News

Since Burma’s independence in 1948, various ethnic minority groups have pursued a higher level of autonomy. To fight against the aggression of the military government, ethnic insurgent groups adopted guerrilla-style tactics. In response to this, in the 1960s, the government started counter-insurgency strategy called Four Cuts that was designed to cut four main sources between insurgents, their families and local villagers, including food, funds, intelligence, and recruits. 

 

A nominally civilian government led by President Thein Sein - who served as a general and then prime minister under the junta - was installed in March 2011. However, a new constitution brought in by the junta in 2008 entrenched the primacy of the military. A quarter of seats in both parliamentary chambers are reserved for the military, and three key ministerial posts - interior, defence and border affairs - must be held by serving generals.

This page has paths:

This page references: