Burma

Burma

Introduction

Background

Britain conquered Burma over a period of 62 years (1824-1886) and incorporated it into its Indian Empire. Burma was administered as a province of India until 1937 when it became a separate, self-governing colony

independence from the Commonwealth was attained in 1948. Gen. NE WIN dominated the government from 1962 to 1988, first as military ruler, then as self-appointed president, and later as political kingpin. In September 1988, the military deposed NE WIN and established a new ruling junta. Despite multiparty legislative elections in 1990 that resulted in the main opposition party – the National League for Democracy (NLD) – winning a landslide victory, the junta refused to hand over power. NLD leader and Nobel Peace Prize recipient AUNG SAN SUU KYI, who was under house arrest from 1989 to 1995 and 2000 to 2002, was imprisoned in May 2003 and subsequently transferred to house arrest. She was finally released in November 2010. After the ruling junta in August 2007 unexpectedly increased fuel prices, tens of thousands of Burmese marched in protest, led by prodemocracy activists and Buddhist monks. In late September 2007, the government brutally suppressed the protests, killing at least 13 people and arresting thousands for participating in the demonstrations. Since then, the regime has continued to raid homes and monasteries and arrest persons suspected of participating in the pro-democracy protests. Burma in early May 2008 was struck by Cyclone Nargis, which claimed over 138,000 dead and tens of thousands injured and homeless. Despite this tragedy, the junta proceeded with its May constitutional referendum, the first vote in Burma since 1990. Parliamentary elections held in November 2010, considered flawed by many in the international community, saw the junta’s Union Solidarity and Development Party garnering over 75% of the seats. Parliament convened in January 2011 and selected former Prime Minister THEIN SEIN as president. The vast majority of national-level appointees named by THEIN SEIN are former or current military officers.

Geography

Location

Southeastern Asia, bordering the Andaman Sea and the Bay of Bengal, between Bangladesh and Thailand

Geographic coordinates

22 00 N, 98 00 E

Map references

Southeast Asia

Area

total: 676,578 sq km
country comparison to the world: 40 land:653,508 sq km
water:23,070 sq km

Area – comparative

slightly smaller than Texas

Land boundaries

total: 5,876 km
border countries:Bangladesh 193 km, China 2,185 km, India 1,463 km, Laos 235 km, Thailand 1,800 km

Coastline

1,930 km

Maritime claims

territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone:24 nm
exclusive economic zone:200 nm
continental shelf:200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin

Climate

tropical monsoon

cloudy, rainy, hot, humid summers (southwest monsoon, June to September)

less cloudy, scant rainfall, mild temperatures, lower humidity during winter (northeast monsoon, December to April)

Terrain

central lowlands ringed by steep, rugged highlands

Elevation extremes

lowest point: Andaman Sea 0 m
highest point:Hkakabo Razi 5,881 m

Natural resources

petroleum, timber, tin, antimony, zinc, copper, tungsten, lead, coal, marble, limestone, precious stones, natural gas, hydropower

Land use

arable land: 14.92%
permanent crops:1.31%
other:83.77% (2005)

Irrigated land

22,500 sq km (2008)

Total renewable water resources

1,045.6 cu km (1999)

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)

total: 33.23cu km/yr (1%/1%/98%)
per capita:658cu m/yr (2000)

Natural hazards

destructive earthquakes and cyclones

flooding and landslides common during rainy season (June to September)

periodic droughts

Environment – current issues

deforestation

industrial pollution of air, soil, and water

inadequate sanitation and water treatment contribute to disease

Environment – international agreements

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94
signed, but not ratified:none of the selected agreements

Geography – note

strategic location near major Indian Ocean shipping lanes

People and Society

Nationality

noun: Burmese (singular and plural)
adjective:Burmese

Ethnic groups

Burman 68%, Shan 9%, Karen 7%, Rakhine 4%, Chinese 3%, Indian 2%, Mon 2%, other 5%

Languages

Burmese (official)
note:minority ethnic groups have their own languages

Religions

Buddhist 89%, Christian 4% (Baptist 3%, Roman Catholic 1%), Muslim 4%, animist 1%, other 2%

Population

53,999,804 (July 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 24 note:estimates for this country take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS

this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality, higher death rates, lower population growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected

Age structure

0-14 years: 27.5% (male 7,560,859/female 7,278,652)
15-64 years:67.5% (male 18,099,707/female 18,342,696)
65 years and over:5% (male 1,184,291/female 1,533,599) (2011 est.)

Median age

total: 26.9 years
male:26.3 years
female:27.5 years (2011 est.)

Population growth rate

1.084% (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 108

Birth rate

19.31 births/1,000 population (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 97

Death rate

8.16 deaths/1,000 population (July 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 97

Net migration rate

-0.31 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 129

Urbanization

urban population: 34% of total population (2010)
rate of urbanization:2.9% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

Major cities – population

RANGOON (capital) 4.259 million

Mandalay 1.009 million

Nay Pyi Taw 992,000 (2009)

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years:1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years:0.99 male(s)/female
65 years and over:0.77 male(s)/female
total population:0.99 male(s)/female (2011 est.)

Maternal mortality rate

240 deaths/100,000 live births (2008)
country comparison to the world: 54

Infant mortality rate

total: 49.23 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 50 male:56.16 deaths/1,000 live births
female:41.88 deaths/1,000 live births (2011 est.)

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 64.88 years
country comparison to the world: 167 male:62.57 years
female:67.33 years (2011 est.)

Total fertility rate

2.26 children born/woman (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 101

Health expenditures

2% of GDP (2009)
country comparison to the world: 188

Physicians density

0.457 physicians/1,000 population (2008)
country comparison to the world: 128

Hospital bed density

0.6 beds/1,000 population (2006)
country comparison to the world: 165

Drinking water source

improved:
urban: 75% of population
rural: 69% of population
total: 71% of population
unimproved:
urban: 25% of population
rural: 31% of population
total: 29% of population (2008)

Sanitation facility access

improved:
urban: 86% of population
rural: 79% of population
total: 81% of population
unimproved:
urban: 14% of population
rural: 21% of population
total: 19% of population (2008)

HIV/AIDS – adult prevalence rate

0.6% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 62

HIV/AIDS – people living with HIV/AIDS

240,000 (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 24

HIV/AIDS – deaths

18,000 (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 17

Major infectious diseases

degree of risk: very high
food or waterborne diseases:bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
vectorborne diseases:dengue fever and malaria
water contact disease:leptospirosis
animal contact disease:rabies
note:highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza has been identified in this country

it poses a negligible risk with extremely rare cases possible among US citizens who have close contact with birds (2009)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

29.6% (2003)
country comparison to the world: 19

Education expenditures

NA

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population:89.9%
male:93.9%
female:86.4% (2006 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

total: 9 years
male:8 years
female:8 years (2007)

Government

Country name

conventional long form: Union of Burma
conventional short form:Burma
local long form:Pyidaungzu Myanma Naingngandaw (translated by the US Government as Union of Myanma and by the Burmese as Union of Myanmar)
local short form:Myanma Naingngandaw
former:Socialist Republic of the Union of Burma
note:since 1989 the military authorities in Burma have promoted the name Myanmar as a conventional name for their state

the US Government did not adopt the name, which is a derivative of the Burmese short-form name Myanma Naingngandaw

Government type

military regime (a nominally civilian government has been named, but a formal transfer of power has not yet taken place)

Capital

name: Rangoon (Yangon)
geographic coordinates:16 48 N, 96 09 E
time difference:UTC+6.5 (11.5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
note:Nay Pyi Taw is the administrative capital

Administrative divisions

7 divisions (taing-myar, singular – taing) and 7 states* (pyi ne-myar, singular – pyi ne)
divisions:Ayeyarwady, Bago, Magway, Mandalay, Sagaing, Tanintharyi, Yangon
states:Chin, Kachin, Kayah, Kayin, Mon, Rakhine (Arakan), Shan

Independence

4 January 1948 (from the UK)

National holiday

Independence Day, 4 January (1948)

Union Day, 12 February (1947)

Constitution

3 January 1974

suspended 18 September 1988

a new constitution was to take effect when the bicameral legislature convened 31 January 2011, but no announcement has been made

Legal system

mixed legal system of English common law (as introduced in codifications designed for colonial India) and customary law

International law organization participation

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration

non-party state to the ICCt

Suffrage

18 years of age

universal

Executive branch

chief of state: President THEIN SEIN (since 4 February 2011)

Vice President SAI MOUK KHAM (since 3 February 2011)

Vice President TIN AUNG MYINT OO (since 4 February 2011)
head of government:Prime Minister THEIN SEIN (since 24 October 2007)
cabinet:cabinet is appointed by the president and confirmed by the parliament
(For more information visit the World Leaders website ) elections:THEIN SEIN elected president by the parliament from among three vice presidents

the upper house, the lower house, and military members of the parliament each nominate one vice president (president serves a five-year term)

Legislative branch

bicameral, consists of the House of Nationalities [Amyotha Hluttaw] (224 seats, 168 directly elected and 56 appointed by the military

members serve five-year terms) and the House of Representatives [Pythu Hluttaw] (440 seats, 330 directly elected and 110 appointed by the military

members serve five-year terms)
elections:last held on 7 November 2010 (next to be held in December 2015)
election results:House of Nationalities – percent of vote by party – USDP 74.8%, others (NUP, SNDP, RNDP, NDF, AMRDP) 25.2%

seats by party – USDP 129, others 39

House of Representatives – percent of vote by party – USDP 79.6%, others (NUP, SNDP, RNDP, NDF, AMRDP) 20.4%

seats by party – USDP 259, others 66

Judicial branch

remnants of the British-era legal system are in place, but there is no guarantee of a fair public trial

the judiciary is not independent of the executive

the 2011 constitution calls for a Supreme Court, a Courts-Martial, and a Constitutional Tribunal of the Union

Political parties and leaders

All Mon Region Democracy Party or AMRDP [NAING NGWE THEIN]

National Democratic Force or NDF [KHIN MAUNG SWE, Dr.THAN NYEIN]

National League for Democracy or NLD [AUNG SHWE, U TIN OO, AUNG SAN SUU KYI]

note – the party was deregisted because it did not register for the 2010 election, but it is still active

National Unity Party or NUP [TUN YE]

Rakhine Nationalities Development Party or RNDP [Dr. AYE MG]

Shan Nationalities Democratic Party [SAI AIKE PAUNG]

Shan Nationalities League for Democracy or SNLD [HKUN HTUN OO]

Union Solidarity and Development Party or USDP [SHWE MANN, HTAY OO]

numerous smaller parties

Political pressure groups and leaders

Thai border: Ethnic Nationalities Council or ENC

Federation of Trade Unions-Burma or FTUB (exile trade union and labor advocates)

National Coalition Government of the Union of Burma or NCGUB (self-proclaimed government in exile) ["Prime Minister" Dr. SEIN WIN] consists of individuals, some legitimately elected to the People’s Assembly in 1990 (the group fled to a border area and joined insurgents in December 1990 to form a parallel government in exile)

National Council-Union of Burma or NCUB (exile coalition of opposition groups)
Inside Burma:Kachin Independence Organization or KIO

Karen National Union or KNU

Karenni National People’s Party or KNPP

Union Solidarity and Development Association or USDA (pro-regime, a social and political mass-member organization) [HTAY OO, general secretary] became the Union Solidarity and Development Party in 2010

United Wa State Army or UWSA

88 Generation Students (pro-democracy movement)

several other Shan factions
note:freedom of expression is highly restricted in Burma

political groups, other than parties approved by the government, are limited in number

International organization participation

ADB, ARF, ASEAN, BIMSTEC, CP, EAS, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU, ITUC, NAM, OPCW (signatory), SAARC (observer), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant)

Charge d’Affaires HAN THU

note – Burma does not have an ambassador to the United States
chancery:2300 S Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone:[1] (202) 332-3344
FAX:[1] (202) 332-4351
consulate(s) general:none

Burma has a Mission to the UN in New York

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission: Charge d’Affaires Michael E. THURSTON

note – the United States does not have an ambassador to Burma
embassy:110 University Avenue, Kamayut Township, Rangoon
mailing address:Box B, APO AP 96546
telephone:[95] (1) 536-509, 535-756, 538-038
FAX:[95] (1) 650-306

Flag description

design consists of three equal horizontal stripes of yellow (top), green, and red

centered on the green band is a large white five-pointed star that partially overlaps onto the adjacent colored stripes

the design revives the triband colors used by Burma from 1943-45, during the Japanese occupation

National symbol(s)

chinthe (mythical lion)

National anthem

name: “Kaba Ma Kyei” (Till the End of the World, Myanmar)
lyrics/music:SAYA TIN
note:adopted 1948

Burma is among a handful of non-European nations that have anthems rooted in indigenous traditions

the beginning portion of the anthem is a traditional Burmese anthem before transitioning into a Western-style orchestrated work

Economy

Economy – overview

Burma, a resource-rich country, suffers from pervasive government controls, inefficient economic policies, corruption, and rural poverty. Despite Burma’s emergence as a natural gas exporter, socio-economic conditions have deteriorated under the regime’s mismanagement, leaving most of the public in poverty, while military leaders and their business cronies exploit the country’s ample natural resources. The transfer of state assets, especially real estate, to cronies and military families in 2010 under the guise of a privatization policy further widened the gap between the economic elite and the public. The economy suffers from serious macroeconomic imbalances – including unpredictable inflation, fiscal deficits, multiple official exchange rates that overvalue the Burmese kyat, a distorted interest rate regime, unreliable statistics, and an inability to reconcile national accounts. Burma’s poor investment climate hampers the inflow of foreign investment

in recent years, foreign investors have shied away from nearly every sector except for natural gas, power generation, timber, and mining. The exploitation of natural resources does not benefit the population at large. The business climate is widely perceived as opaque, corrupt, and highly inefficient. Over 60% of the FY 2009-10 budget was allocated to state owned enterprises – most operating at a deficit. The most productive sectors will continue to be in extractive industries – especially oil and gas, mining, and timber – with the latter two causing significant environmental degradation. Other areas, such as manufacturing, tourism and services, struggle in the face of inadequate infrastructure, unpredictable trade policies, neglected health and education systems, and endemic corruption. A major banking crisis in 2003 caused 20 private banks to close

private banks still operate under tight restrictions, limiting the private sector’s access to credit. The United States, the European Union, and Canada have imposed financial and economic sanctions on Burma. US sanctions, prohibiting most financial transactions with Burmese entities, impose travel bans on senior Burmese military and civilian leaders and others connected to the ruling regime, and ban imports of Burmese products. These sanctions affected the country’s fledgling garment industry, isolated the struggling banking sector, and raised the costs of doing business with Burmese companies, particularly firms tied to Burmese regime leaders. The global crisis of 2008-09 caused exports and domestic consumer demand to drop. Remittances from overseas Burmese workers – who had provided significant financial support for their families – slowed or dried up as jobs were lost and migrant workers returned home. Although the Burmese government has good economic relations with its neighbors, significant improvements in economic governance, the business climate, and the political situation are needed to promote serious foreign investment.

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$76.47 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 80 $72.65 billion (2009 est.)
$69.1 billion (2008 est.)
note:data are in 2010 US dollars

GDP (official exchange rate)

$42.95 billion (2010 est.)

GDP – real growth rate

5.3% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 65 5.1% (2009 est.)
3.6% (2008 est.)

GDP – per capita (PPP)

$1,400 (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 202 $1,400 (2009 est.)
$1,300 (2008 est.)
note:data are in 2010 US dollars

GDP – composition by sector

agriculture: 43.1%
industry:20%
services:36.9% (2010 est.)

Labor force

31.68 million (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 19

Labor force – by occupation

agriculture: 70%
industry:7%
services:23% (2001)

Unemployment rate

5.7% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 51 4.9% (2009 est.)

Population below poverty line

32.7% (2007 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 2.8%
highest 10%:32.4% (1998)

Investment (gross fixed)

15.1% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 165

Budget

revenues: $1.411 billion
expenditures:$3.042 billion (2010 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

3.3% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 210

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

-3.8% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 118

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

7.7% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 185 1.5% (2009 est.)

Central bank discount rate

9.95% (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 20 12% (31 December 2009 est.)

Commercial bank prime lending rate

17% (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 36 17% (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of narrow money

$6.533 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 83 $4.44 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
note:this number reflects the vastly overvalued official exchange rate of 5.38 kyat per dollar in 2007

at the unofficial black market rate of 1,305 kyat per dollar for 2007, the stock of kyats would equal only US$2.465 billion and Burma’s velocity of money (the number of times money turns over in the course of a year) would be six, in line with the velocity of money for other countries in the region

in January-February 2011, the unofficial black market rate averaged 890 kyat per dollar.

Stock of broad money

$10.89 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 98 $6.85 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of domestic credit

$11.83 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 92 $7.538 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$NA

Agriculture – products

rice, pulses, beans, sesame, groundnuts, sugarcane

hardwood

fish and fish products

Industries

agricultural processing

wood and wood products

copper, tin, tungsten, iron

cement, construction materials

pharmaceuticals

fertilizer

oil and natural gas

garments, jade and gems

Industrial production growth rate

4.3% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 97

Electricity – production

6.426 billion kWh (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 106

Electricity – consumption

4.63 billion kWh (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 115

Electricity – exports

0 kWh (2009 est.)

Electricity – imports

0 kWh (2009 est.)

Oil – production

21,120 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 75

Oil – consumption

37,000 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 109

Oil – exports

0 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 154

Oil – imports

19,700 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 113

Oil – proved reserves

50 million bbl (1 January 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 79

Natural gas – production

11.54 billion cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 38

Natural gas – consumption

3.25 billion cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 68

Natural gas – exports

8.29 billion cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 23

Natural gas – imports

0 cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 90

Natural gas – proved reserves

283.2 billion cu m (1 January 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 40

Current account balance

$1.549 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 46 $729.6 million (2009 est.)

Exports

$8.586 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 93 $6.673 billion (2009 est.)
note:official export figures are grossly underestimated due to the value of timber, gems, narcotics, rice, and other products smuggled to Thailand, China, and Bangladesh

Exports – commodities

natural gas, wood products, pulses, beans, fish, rice, clothing, jade and gems

Exports – partners

Thailand 38.3%, India 20.8%, China 12.9%, Japan 5.2% (2010)

Imports

$4.224 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 126 $3.951 billion (2009 est.)
note:import figures are grossly underestimated due to the value of consumer goods, diesel fuel, and other products smuggled in from Thailand, China, Malaysia, and India

Imports – commodities

fabric, petroleum products, fertilizer, plastics, machinery, transport equipment

cement, construction materials, crude oil

food products, edible oil

Imports – partners

China 38.9%, Thailand 23.2%, Singapore 12.9%, South Korea 5.8% (2010)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$3.762 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 94 $3.561 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Debt – external

$7.993 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 98 $8.186 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Exchange rates

kyats (MMK) per US dollar -
966 (2010)
1,055 (2009)
1,205 (2008)
1,296 (2007)
1,280 (2006)

Transportation

Airports

76 (2010)
country comparison to the world:72

Airports – with paved runways

total: 37
over 3,047 m:12
2,438 to 3,047 m:8
1,524 to 2,437 m:15
914 to 1,523 m:1
under 914 m:1 (2010)

Airports – with unpaved runways

total: 39
over 3,047 m:1
1,524 to 2,437 m:4
914 to 1,523 m:11
under 914 m:23 (2010)

Heliports

6 (2010)

Pipelines

gas 3,046 km

oil 551 km (2010)

Railways

total: 5,031 km
country comparison to the world: 36 narrow gauge:5,031 km 1.000-m gauge (2010)

Roadways

total: 27,000 km
country comparison to the world: 101 paved:3,200 km
unpaved:23,800 km (2006)

Waterways

12,800 km (2008)
country comparison to the world: 10

Merchant marine

total: 26
country comparison to the world: 91 by type:bulk carrier 1, cargo 19, passenger 2, passenger/cargo 3, specialized tanker 1
foreign-owned:3 (Cyprus 1, Germany 1, Japan 1)
registered in other countries:3 (Panama 3) (2010)

Ports and terminals

Moulmein, Rangoon, Sittwe

Military

Military branches

Myanmar Armed Forces (Tatmadaw): Army (Tatmadaw Kyi), Navy (Tatmadaw Yay), Air Force (Tatmadaw Lay) (2011)

Military service age and obligation

18-35 years of age (men) and 18-27 years of age (women) for compulsory military service

service obligation 2 years

male (ages 18-45) and female (ages 18-35) professionals (including doctors, engineers, mechanics) serve up to 3 years

service terms may be extended to 5 years in an officially declared emergency

forced conscription of children, although officially prohibited, reportedly continues (2011)

Manpower available for military service

males age 16-49: 14,747,845
females age 16-49:14,710,871 (2010 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 16-49: 10,451,515
females age 16-49:11,181,537 (2010 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

male: 522,478
female:506,388 (2010 est.)

Military expenditures

2.1% of GDP (2005 est.)
country comparison to the world: 68

Transnational Issues

Disputes – international

over half of Burma’s population consists of diverse ethnic groups who have substantial numbers of kin in neighboring countries

the Naf river on the border with Bangladesh serves as a smuggling and illegal transit route

Bangladesh struggles to accommodate 29,000 Rohingya, Burmese Muslim minority from Arakan State, living as refugees in Cox’s Bazar

Burmese border authorities are constructing a 200 km (124 mi) wire fence designed to deter illegal cross-border transit and tensions from the military build-up along border with Bangladesh in 2010

Bangladesh referred its maritime boundary claims with Burma and India to the International Tribunal on the Law of the Sea

Burmese forces attempting to dig in to the largely autonomous Shan State to rout local militias tied to the drug trade, prompts local residents to periodically flee into neighboring Yunnan Province in China

fencing along the India-Burma international border at Manipur’s Moreh town is in progress to check illegal drug trafficking and movement of militants

140,000 mostly Karen refugees fleeing civil strife, political upheaval and economic stagnation in Burma live in remote camps in Thailand near the border

Refugees and internally displaced persons

IDPs: 503,000 (government offensives against ethnic insurgent groups near the eastern borders

most IDPs are ethnic Karen, Karenni, Shan, Tavoyan, and Mon) (2007)

Trafficking in persons

current situation: Burma is a source country for women, children, and men trafficked for the purpose of forced labor and commercial sexual exploitation

Burmese women and children are trafficked to East and Southeast Asia for commercial sexual exploitation, domestic servitude, and forced labor

Burmese children are subjected to conditions of forced labor in Thailand as hawkers and beggars

women are trafficked for commercial sexual exploitation to Malaysia and China

some trafficking victims transit Burma from Bangladesh to Malaysia and from China to Thailand

Burma’s internal trafficking remains the most serious concern occurring primarily from villages to urban centers and economic hubs for labor in industrial zones, agricultural estates, and commercial sexual exploitation

the Burmese military continues to engage in the unlawful conscription of child soldiers, and continues to be the main perpetrator of forced labor inside Burma

a small number of foreign pedophiles occasionally exploit Burmese children in the country
tier rating:Tier 3 – the driving factors behind Burma’s significant trafficking problem are the regime’s gross economic mismanagement and human rights abuses, the military’s continued widespread use of forced and child labor, and the recruitment of child soldiers

although the government of Burma has taken some steps to address cross-border sex trafficking, it has not demonstrated serious and sustained efforts to clamp down on military and local authorities who are themselves deriving economic benefit from forced labor practices (2011)

Illicit drugs

world’s third largest producer of illicit opium with an estimated production in 2009 of 250 metric tons, a decrease of 27%, and poppy cultivation in 2009 totaled 17,000 hectares, a 24% decrease from 2008

production in the United Wa State Army’s areas of greatest control remains low

Shan state is the source of 94.5% of Burma’s poppy cultivation

lack of government will to take on major narcotrafficking groups and lack of serious commitment against money laundering continues to hinder the overall antidrug effort

major source of methamphetamine and heroin for regional consumption (2011)