The document provides background information on Myanmar, including that it borders several Southeast Asian countries and was formerly known as Burma. It discusses Myanmar gaining independence in 1948 but experiencing a military coup in 1962 that ended democratic rule. While elections were held in 1990, the military refused to recognize the election results and detained pro-democracy leaders, including Aung San Suu Kyi. Despite ongoing restrictions, Suu Kyi continued campaigning for democracy from house arrest and won the Nobel Peace Prize for her efforts, though Myanmar is still working to establish a true democracy.

2. INTRODUCTION
Myanmar officially the Republic of the Union of Myanmar, also known
as Burma, is a sovereign state in the region of Southeast Asia. Myanmar
is bordered by India and Bangladesh to its west, Thailand and Laos to its
east, and China to its north and northeast. Its capital city
is Naypyidaw and its largest city and former capital city is Yangon.
Myanmar has been a member of the Association of Southeast Asian
Nations (ASEAN) since 1997. Myanmar general elections were held on 8
November 2015. These were the first openly contested elections held in
Myanmar since 1990. The results gave the National League for
Democracy an absolute majority of seats in both chambers of the national
parliament, enough to ensure that its candidate would become president,
while NLD leader Aung San Suu Kyi is constitutionally barred from the
presidency.
The new parliament convened on 1 February 2016and, on 15 March
2016, Htin Kyaw was elected as the first non-military president of the
country since the military coup of 1962. On 6 April 2016, Aung San Suu
Kyi assumed the newly created role of State Counsellor, a role akin to
a Prime Minister.

3. Myanmar gained freedom from colonial rule in 1948 and
became a democracy. But the democratic rule ended in
1962 with a military coup. In 1990 elections were held
for the first time after almost 30 years. The National
League for Democracy, led by Aung San Suu Kyi won
the election.

4. But the military leaders of Myanmar refused to step
down and did not recognize the election results.
Instead, the military put the elected pro-democracy
leaders, including Suu Kyi, under house arrest.
Political activists accused of even the most trivial
offences have been jailed.

5. Anyone caught publicly airing views or issuing
statements critical of the regime can be sentenced up
to twenty years in prison. Due to the coercive policies
of the military ruled government in Myanmar, about
6 to 10 lakh people in that country have been
uprooted from their homes and have taken shelter
elsewhere.

6. Despite being under house arrest, Suu Kyi continued to
campaign for democracy. According to her:
“The quest for democracy in Burma is the struggle of the people to live
whole, meaningful lives as free and equal members of the world
community.”
Her struggle has won international recognition. She has also
been awarded the Noble Peace Prize. Yet the people in
Myanmar are still struggling to establish a democratic
government in their country.
'

7. This cartoon appeared in 2005 when Aung San Suu Kyi turned 60.
Q) What is the cartoonist saying here? Will the army rulers feel
happy with this cartoon?
a) No. The cartoon mocks the military rulers. They wish Suu Kyi a
happy birthday by putting her in jail. Her 60th birthday cake is in
the form or shape of a jail.