Myanmar

Main article: Countries of the world

Separatism

Wa State - Drugs and Funding by China

In the east of Myanmar, in the state of Shan in 2023, the territories of the unrecognized state of Wa, which is de facto an independent political entity with its own army, are located.

The armed group operating in the region - the Joint Army of the Wa State - remains aloof from the civil war.

However, the Wa authorities maintain allied relations with several organizations fighting against the regime. Such as the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army, Taang National Liberation Army, etc.

As part of these alliances, Wa supplies weapons and equipment to formations.

Supporting ethnic groups, the Wa state has several goals:

• Creating a buffer zone between the Ba territories and the zone of active clashes. Its task is to contain possible attacks by unfriendly ethnic groups or the Myanmar Armed Forces on the state of Wa.

• Further expansion of the territory. For a long time, the Wa and the Shan armed groups operating in Shan State have been fighting for influence in the region. The elimination of the largest of them by the forces of other gangs will unite the divided territory of the Wa state.

Shan State is part of the so-called Golden Triangle, a geographical area located on the borders of Thailand, Myanmar and Laos, known for drug trafficking, the Rybar channel wrote in February 2023.

At this time, heroin, synthetic methamphetamine and yaba pills are produced in the region.

Drugs are subsequently distributed throughout Southeast Asia and far abroad. Wa authorities use the proceeds generated from the sale of opium and methamphetamine to fund their political goals as well as promote nationalism.

The Wa state also enjoys support from the PRC. Chinese is common in the region, the Chinese yuan is used as the currency, and the Internet and mobile communications are provided by Chinese providers. Beijing also actively supplies weapons to the Joint Army of the Wa State.

For the PRC, Wa has become one of the tools to influence the authorities in Myanmar in order to control an important logistics route for itself to the Indian Ocean.

In recent years, China has been actively investing in transport infrastructure to make it easier to get goods from Singapore through Myanmar to Sichuan province, one of the most populated.

From the coast of the Bay of Bengal, a Chinese gas pipeline and oil pipeline pass through Myanmar.

Myanmar is also part of China's Belt and Road strategy.

While there is a civil war in Myanmar, the Wa state, even without directly participating in it, benefits the most from the situation.

The influence of the Joint Army of the State of Wa in Shan State is becoming stronger, since in fact it is she who sponsors local gangs.

With the support of most groups, the Wa authorities will be able, firstly, to crush all drug trafficking in the state, and, secondly, to achieve their goals of expanding the territory.

The strengthening of Wa in the status of an independent state can also contribute to the transition of Myanmar to confederation, and not to the federation for which ethnic groups have been fighting since the middle of the 20th century. However, the decisive word in getting ahead of the future device of Myanmar is still in favor. China

Economy

Inflation

2022: Inflation in November - 19.4%

Power

2020: Low per capita energy consumption

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Gas export

2022: Gas exports via pipelines to China and Thailand

Mining

2022: Top 10 leading countries in the production of critical raw materials

2021: Myanmar's share of global rare earth mineral production - 9.3%

Agriculture

2019: Low use of pesticides in agriculture

Real estate

2020:58% of urban population lives in slums

Consumption

2023: Fish consumption is higher than meat consumption

Foreign trade

2022: China is the biggest export destination

Population

Population

2022:55 million people

Nationalities

As of 2023, the Myanmar government recognized 135 ethnic groups as living in the country. The place of the ethnic majority is occupied by the Bamar people. Minorities include Kaya, Shans, Kachins, Mones, Ranks, Arakans and others.

Migration

2021: Net outflow over 4 years

Marriages

Allowed to have more than one spouse

Education

2019: Number of years of education by citizens over 25

Health care

Maternity leave

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2020

Duration of guaranteed paid sick leave 6 months or more

Part of the population defecates on the street

Crime

Prisons

2019: Minimum age of imprisonment for children - 7 years

2021: Number of prisoners - 92,000

2018: Number of prisoners per 100 thousand citizens

History

2024: Ceasefire agreement between government and Triple Brotherhood Alliance

In January 2024, it became known that the Triple Brotherhood Alliance, which is the driving force behind Operation 1027 in the north of Shan State in Myanmar, and the country's military authorities entered into a ceasefire agreement. This was the result of negotiations held from January 10 to 11 with the active mediation of China.

The fact that the parties will begin negotiations was clear after the capture of Laukkai by ethnic groups. From the very beginning of the offensive, the main member of the Army of the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance needed to seize control of the Kokan territory, from which it was expelled back in 2009. Through negotiations, the organization is trying to secure this zone.

Under the terms, the groups commit not to attack cities under military control, while the government refuses to launch air attacks and use heavy weapons in rebel territory.

This agreement is not the beginning of the end of the civil conflict in the country, Rybar suggested. Myanmar has a large number of other ethnic groups and rebel organizations still fighting under the pretext of overthrowing the military government.

And given that past truces have been repeatedly violated, there remains the possibility that hostilities in the region will begin again.

The actions of the Triple Brotherhood Alliance are not at all similar to what some experts spoke about at the end of October 2023 - for them, groups were the main driving force behind the revolution and the overthrow of the government. Many anticipated the complete collapse of the "ill-fated regime" and the formation of a "true" democracy in the country.

In fact, the rebels seized control of the necessary territories and immediately concluded a truce.

2023

Myanmar authorities propose Russia to create a military base in the country

In March 2023, Myanmar leader Min Aoun Hline held a meeting with a trade delegation from Russia. The parties discussed the development of cooperation in various fields, including the export of agricultural products, the construction of infrastructure, and so on.

Along with solving economic issues, the parties have been discussing the possibility of permanent deployment of the Russian Armed Forces on the territory of Myanmar for several years. The difficulty is that Myanmar has a ban on the establishment of any foreign military bases.

At the same time, the leadership of Myanmar offered Russia an elegant solution - first to bring Russian business to the country under pre-reserved territories under favorable conditions, and only then to equip the logistics base of the RF Armed Forces there.

Being in a difficult position due to sanctions pressure from the West and internal civil conflict, the Myanmar authorities are extremely interested in economic cooperation with Russia.

In particular, Myanmar directly declares its readiness to create a logistics hub to promote Russian business in Southeast Asia.

According to the Rybar channel, the country's authorities propose to allocate a plot of land to entrepreneurs from the Russian Federation in the port zone in Yangon, with access to the Indian Ocean, at a cost ten times less than for tenants from other countries.

Even despite favorable conditions, openness and initiative of the Myanmar authorities, Russian business is in no hurry to master new horizons, therefore, there are no practical results of constant negotiations.

In Myanmar, for many years now governmental , clashes between troops and various armed groups have continued. At the same time, the most economic areas attractive to business are located far from the conflict zones. For example, the domestic political situation does not at all prevent businessmen from PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA actively developing trade cooperation with Myanmar. Against this background, the Chinese armed forces are already using the same option offered to Russia. According to some sources, the PLA has already begun building its own base on several Myanmar islands in the Indian Ocean.

Cooperation projects with Russia and 806 Western sanctions against Myanmar

The authorities of Myanmar and Russia are increasing bilateral cooperation, in particular, in the field of nuclear power. In February 2023, the parties signed an agreement on the implementation of the nuclear power plant project in Myanmar.

In addition, officials of the two countries are discussing deepening cooperation in the fields of transport infrastructure and mineral development.

Against this background, Western countries continue to exert economic pressure on Myanmar., And EU Britain Canada USA imposed a number of sanctions on private and legal entities allegedly involved in human rights violations in the country.

Washington in March 2023 also imposed export restrictions on fuel for aircraft in order to reduce the ability of the Myanmar military to use aviation.

Extension of the state of emergency and amendment of the law on political parties

The State Administrative Council on January 26, 2023 passed a new law on the registration of political parties.

The law prohibits the participation of parties associated with terrorist organizations. This is done primarily to prevent the rebels and their allies from being elected.

On February 1, the National Defense and Security Council extended the state of emergency in the country for another 6 months.

According to the constitution of Myanmar, a state of emergency can be established for one year with a possible extension for another year (twice for six months), after which elections must be held. However, the military felt that the country was still not ready for the elections.

Continued clashes between government forces and rebels

In Myanmar, clashes between the Armed Forces and the People's Defense Forces, as well as ethnic armed groups on their side, continue in early 2023. In many ways, clashes are of a point nature.

The greatest activity of militants is observed in the states of Chin, Kachin, Karen, as well as the regions of Sikain, Mague and Mandalay. They also involve various armed formations - for example, the Kachin Independence Army, the Karen National Liberation Army and others.

Since Myanmar's independence, the country has seen a large number of local ethnic conflicts. Many of them were transformed into low-intensity conflicts, and nothing yet indicates the possibility of stabilizing the situation, the Rybar channel noted.

2022: Guerrilla warfare backed by the US and its allies

Numerous political forces opposed the military and turned to guerrilla warfare with attacks on army installations and settlements.

Rebels from the People's Defense Forces (NSO) are the combat wing of the Government of National Unity, which opposes the military junta. At the end of 2022, anti-government forces control a significant part of the sparsely populated border areas in the west and southeast of the country.

The rebels are receiving aid from the United States and Western states. Russia and China formally, although they occupy a neutral position, block resolutions directed against Myanmar in the UN Security Council and supply the country with weapons with equipment.

After almost two years of fighting, the Myanmar army confidently controls the country's largest financial centers and resource areas.

2021

The beginning of the civil war

After numerous protests and civil disobedience actions that began in February 2021, a civil war broke out in the country, which continues in February 2023. Since the beginning of the conflict, there have been 19 thousand deaths.

The two main warring parties were the new governing body formed by the military - the State Administrative Council, and the underground Government of National Unity.

In April 2021, the People's Defense Forces were formed by the Government of National Unity, which entered into a confrontation with the Myanmar Armed Forces.

The civil war aggravated the long-standing interethnic conflicts in various regions of the multinational country. Some groups decided to take advantage of the situation and oppose the military junta in an attempt to achieve independence. Most of them are hiding in forest camps and fighting a guerrilla war.

Military coup and state of emergency for a year

At the end of January 2021, a military coup took place in Myanmar. President Win Mying and leader of the ruling National League for Democracy party Aung San Suu Kyi were detained, she also holds the post of state adviser (prime minister).

The military announced the seizure of power, and the introduction of a state of emergency in Myanmar for a year.

The interim leader of the country was Vice President Myint Shwe, and the entire completeness of state power is transferred to the Commander-in-Chief of the Myanmar Armed Forces, Senior General Min Aung Hline.

The military claims 8.6 million violations in the lists in the parliamentary elections

The results of the November 2020 Myanmar parliamentary elections were challenged by the military due to a huge number of violations.

The ruling National League for Democracy party won, winning 396 of the 476 parliamentary seats, allowing it to form a government for another five years. The military-backed Union Solidarity and Development Party won 33 seats.

The military found 8.6 million violations in the voter rolls. The accusations were rejected by the election commission on January 29, 2021, and already on February 1 there was a military coup.

Probably another reason was the desire of the commander-in-chief of the Myanmar Armed Forces, Min Aung Hline, to maintain power. At that time, he was waiting for an ambulance resignation on the occasion of reaching 65 years and retirement.

1947: Adoption of a constitution with the right of the Kaya and Shan peoples to secede from Burma after ten years in a referendum

In the middle of the 20th century, it was going to the departure of the British from the region. The country was divided into several administrative units - some of them, by decision of Britain, were ruled by ethnic minorities. To unite the country, supporters of Burma's independence managed to get support from the Kachins, Shans and ranks. In 1947, the Panlun Agreement was concluded with representatives of these nationalities, in which the parties recognized the need to create separate management mechanisms for ethnic nationalities.

As a result, in 1947, the country's constitution was adopted. According to the document, the authorities created separate administrative units for five ethnic groups. Under the constitution, kaya and shanas were even given the opportunity to secede from Burma after ten years, but only when a referendum was held.

However, in the country everything quickly went not according to plan - ethnic minorities demanded autonomy or separation from Burma, and the government was unable to fulfill its socio-economic promises and obligations under the new constitution. The main consequence of this was the armed conflict.

1935

1909: As part of British India

1886: Incorporated into British India

Until the 19th century, Burma (the country's old name) existed as a collection of territories governed by various ethnic groups, many of which at times had their own kingdoms and principalities. Despite tensions and wars between them, many local communities in Burma have historically been multi-ethnic.

However, the situation changed with the arrival of the British - already in 1886 the country became part of British India, and later a separate colony called British Burma.

Ecology

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Sport

2022: The most popular sport is football

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