Myanmar

Myanmar (English name promoted by the government) or Burma (traditional English name) (Burmese: Bama or formally Myanma, inconsistently anglicized to Myanmar) is a country in south-east Asia. Its official name is the Union of Myanmar (Burmese: Pyidaungzu Myanma Naingngandaw). Its largest city and former capital is Rangoon, officially known as Yangon. The new capital has been Naypyidaw since 2005.

Burma was a British colony until independence on 4 January 1948.

In 1962, General Ne Win's coup overthrew the civilian government. Today, the military State Law and Order Restoration Council (the SLORC), under Than Shwe, rules Burma, despite the fact that in 1990 the National League for Democracy, led by Aung San Suu Kyi won an election. Suu Kyi remains under house arrest.