News and Politics | May 09, 2008 | 17 comments

You say Burma, I say Myanmar... but why?

source: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/country_profiles/1300003.stm

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joshuaheller
The recent cyclones in South Asia have brought Burma into the news, but some sources call it Myanmar. Why?

http://current.com/items/88936935_devastation_in_myanmar

The name change is confusing, but it has socio-political implications.

Burma has been the historic name of the region since the 11th century. Burma became an independent parliamentary democracy in 1948, but a 1962 coup gave a military junta absolute power. In 1988 citizens of Burma held a nationwide protest demanding an end to the junta. Reports indicate that soldiers fired on unarmed protesters, killing thousands. After the protests an internal coup emerged. The ruling faction then established an election, but only after imprisoning opposition party leader, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi. In a 1990 she received over 80% of the parliamentary seats. Democracy still doesn’t exist in the country.

In 1989 the ruling faction decided to rename the country, Myanmar, the Burmese word for “strong and fast.” As it stands Myanmar is a term that represents the ruling party, and not the people. The Burmese people who struggle for a fair democracy call their nation Burma. The policy of the European Union and the United States is to call the nation Burma, in symbolic protest of the dictatorship.

The issues in this country are complex. These are some links to learn more about Burma/Myanmar

Breaking news about the nation:
http://current.com/topics/77004662_burma
http://current.com/topics/77012082_myanmar

News sources run by exiled Burmese dissidents:
http://www.mizzima.com/
http://www.irrawaddy.org/

International human rights campaigns for Burma:
http://uscampaignforburma.org/
http://www.cfob.org/
http://www.burmacampaign.org.uk/
http://www.freeburmacoalition.org/
http://www.freeburmarangers.org/

Further reading:

“Should it be Burma or Myanmar? “
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/magazine/7013943.stm

“Global Business vs. Global Justice”
http://www.pbs.org/now/politics/burma.html

CIA World Factbook
https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/bm.html

BBC Country Profile
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/country_profiles/1300003.stm

Burmese pro-democracy leader, Aung San Suu Kyi
http://www.dassk.com/index.php
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17 comments // You say Burma, I say Myanmar... but why?

  • stepphtarnovetch
  • PlatoTacius
    • 0
      PlatoTacius  

    • One more example of a country and the people ruled by tyranny...and the action their leaders take, is the evidence of the selfish policies they employ to stifle the spirit of those same people...their people...call it what you will...

    • 3 years ago
  • rozsbri2376
    • 0
      rozsbri2376  

    • its very sad no matter what the hell they want to call it all thoes people dead now how horrible, nothing like the wrath of mother nature never has been never will be

    • 3 years ago
  • BradH
  • RudyRudell
    • 0
      RudyRudell  

    • I always thought it was the opposite, that we were calling it Burma whilst the general population there wanted to be called Myanmar. Thanks for posting this informative fact thing.

    • 3 years ago
  • misseemarple
    • 0
      misseemarple  

    • May all the gods in the universe protect Burma and Myanmar from the US "air-strike into extinction" and from being "rebuilt from the bottom up".

    • 3 years ago
  • dchild000
  • jlaboy
  • malathion
    • 0
      malathion  

    • my great uncle - a legendary marine aviator with the AVG 's " Hell's Angels " in the CBI theatre - defended "Burma" against the kind of japanese aggression which had previously caused such atrocities as the "rape of Nanking " . i don't care what the Junta chooses to call itself - it's a terrorist outfit and should be air-striked into extinction - i am all about the US going in to re-build the country from the bottom up - all purely "political" considerations aside - Burma ( "Myanmar ") deserves better .

    • 3 years ago
  • Elligirl
  • cursedasfunk
    • 0
      cursedasfunk  

    • I do like what xenomode said and thats just the point. They are formally free, Sitting back and pretending its the same old burma is not going to help anyone. If all goes well and they win back their freedom, they can change it back and it wouldnt have sullied the name of their proud nation.

    • 3 years ago
  • cursedasfunk
    • 0
      cursedasfunk  

    • This is the first time iv disagreed with everyone that posted. What I would do is take this new name and work to restore burma. It said in the article that Myanmar is a term that represents the ruling party, and not the people. which is true, They need to get the word out to people that will help. (not america)The word is that Myanmar is a name of pain, suffering, and terror. Myanmar is something to rise up against. It could very well be a tipping piont to a revolution.

    • 3 years ago
  • mgoines
    • 0
      mgoines  

    • Maybe they should put Myanmar and add (Burma) to it so people will know what they are talking about.

      It'd really help.

    • 3 years ago
  • Nawid
  • HappyYoga
    • 0
      HappyYoga  

    • I agree with xenomode , if the people call it Burma, I know that is what I want to call it as well. Thanks for the information.

    • 3 years ago
  • xenomode
    • 0
      xenomode  

    • if that's true then the media should probably be referring to it as Burma. No reason to validate the name given by oppressors of a formally free people.

    • 3 years ago
  • chet_arthur
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