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- Insurgencies Since 1940s
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Country Profile
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The Union of Myanmar (also known as Burma), regained its independence in 1948 from British colonization, and is located in Southeast Asia bordering with Thailand, Laos and China to the east and India and Bangladesh to the west. It has been blessed with extraordinary cultural and bio-diversity and the potential to develop into one of the great nations of the world. Being a developmental country, Myanmar economically becomes a member of Association for South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) in July 1997.
Seven
States and Seven Divisions: Myanmar is divided into seven states (Kachin, Kayah, Kayin, Chin, Mon, Rakhine, Shan) and seven divisions (Yangon, Thanintari, Magwe, Mandalay, Sitgine, Ayeyawadi and Bagu).
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Map
of Union of Myanmar
(CLICK TO ENLARGE)
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 The major ethnic nationality groups include Kachin, Kayah, Kayin, Chin, Mon, Burman (Bamar), Rekhine and Shan, and many smaller groups. The population, estimated in 2002, was more than 50 million.
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Language
and Religion:
While Burmese language remains the common and official language in the country, each nationality group has their own distinct language, cultural identity and customs. The religious diversity is equally as great, including the majority religion Buddhism, Christianity, Islam, Animism, and Hinduism.
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Shwedagon
Pagona (Yangon)
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