Burma: Chronology of Events

1800s | 1930s | 1940s | 1960s | 1970s | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s

1824-1886
Burma annexed to British India during three successive Anglo-Burmese Wars.

1937
Burma separated from India and granted a constitution, providing a limited measure of self-government (ethnic minorities were administered under a separate system until independence).

1942-1945
World War II: The Japanese occupy Burma and grant fictitious independence under a puppet regime led by anti-British nationalists who later turned against the Japanese and aided the Allied forces in retaking the country.

1945
Japanese are defeated; British authority is restored. A coalition of nationalist forces, the Anti-Facist People's Freedom League (AFPFL) emerges as the principle political organisation under the leadership of General Aung San.

January 1947
Aung San and British Prime Minister Clement Attlee sign an agreement in London promising an interim government for Burma in preparation for independence 'within or without the British Commonwealth'.

February 1947
Leaders of Shan Kachin and Chin peoples sign an agreement with Aung San at Panglong, and agree to join the proposed Union of Burma in exchange for some degree of autonomy for their respective areas.

July 1947
Aung San and six cabinet members assassinated in Rangoon. U Nu becomes new AFPFL leader and chief of the cabinet.

September 1947
A new constitution is approved, guaranteeing a democratic system and limited federalism. The Shan and Karenni states get the right to secede from the proposed Union of Burma after a ten-year period of independence. A Kachin State with no right to secede is established. There is no provision for a Karen state.

January 1948
The Union of Burma becomes an independent nation outside of the commonwealth, carrying on the British tradition of parliamentary democracy. U Nu becomes first democratically elected Prime Minister of independent Burma.

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March 1962
Burmese army led by General Ne Win overthrows U Nu's democratic government and seizes power in Rangoon. U Nu and his ministers are jailed along with over thirty ethnic leaders. The new junta, called the Revolutionary Council, is established, investing Ne Win with full executive, legislative and judicial powers. The parliament is destroyed and the constitution suspended.

April 1962
The 'Burmese Way to Socialism' is published and is said to be the guiding ideological basis of the regime.

July 1962
The Burma Socialist Programme Party (BSPP) is formed by the new Revolutionary Council. All private enterprises are nationalised and a state controlled-centralised economy is introduced. The country is sealed off from the outside world.

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January 1974
A new constitution guaranteeing a single-party socialist rule is adopted. Separate Chin, Mon and Arakan states are established, but without the limited autonomy that the ethnic states were guaranteed under the 1947 constitution. Ne Win becomes president of the Socialist Republic of Burma.

March 1974
On the 12th anniversary of the 1962 coup, the new constitution comes into effect.

June 1974
The US and Burmese governments sign an agreement committing to 'suppressing the illegal cultivation, processing, production, and trafficking of narcotic drugs'. The US government agrees to supply Rangoon with Bell 205 helicopters for this purpose.

December 1974
The government declares martial law.

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1986
Inspired by the success of the South Korean people in gaining fair elections, the Burmese people organise protests demanding the democratisation of the country and the end of military rule. Demonstrations are quashed with force, resulting in some 3000 deaths.

1987
Burma's economy having plummeted under military rule, Burma achieves Least Developed Country status at the UN.

1988
A massive democratic movement initiates in Rangoon and spreads throughout the country.

August 1988
Marks the last and by far largest rebellion in a series of peaceful student-led demonstrations against the single-party rule. Hundreds of protestors are killed as the army opens fire on demonstrators.

September 1988
The Burmese army resorts to violence to silence the nationwide uprising. An estimated 10,000 students, Buddhist monks and civilians are killed on the streets by the Burmese Army. Thousands of activists are arrested and tortured during interrogation. The Burmese Army seizes power and forms the State Law and Order Restoration Council (SLORC).

September 1988
The National League for Democracy (NLD) is formed. Daw Aung San Suu Kyi becomes the General Secretary of the NLD.

July 1989
Daw Aung San Suu Kyi is placed under house arrest (and remains so until her release six years later).

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May 1990
Multi-Party general elections are held. The NLD wins 392 out of 485 seats in Parliament.

July 1990
The SLORC issues Order No. 1/90 stating that it will not accept in any way the establishment of a civilian government based on an interim constitution. It adds that the SLORC intends to hold onto power until it convenes a national convention with the authority to pass a new constitution.

December 1990
With the democratic government in exile, the National Coalition Government of the Union of Burma (NCGUB) is formed by representatives elected in the 1990 general elections.

December 1991
Daw Aung San Suu Kyi is awarded 1991 Nobel Peace Prize.

March 1992
The United Nations Commission on Human Rights (UNCHR) adopts a resolution on "the situation of Human Rights in Myanmar" by consensus and appoints a UN Human Rights Special Rapporteur to submit a report to the UNGA and the UNCHR. The UN Human Rights Special Rapporteur visits Burma annually before the UNGA convenes in October. The mandate of the Special Rapporteur gets a year extension at each session of the UNCGR since 1993.

January 1993
First session of SLORC's National Convention is held. Elected representatives of the people constitute only 15.24 per cent of the delegates. Other delegates are handpicked by the SLORC.

December 1993
The United Nations General Assembly adopts a resolution by consensus requesting the UN Secretary-General to assist in the implementation of the resolution and in the process of national reconciliation.

July 1995
Daw Aung San Suu Kyi is released from house arrest.

November 1995
The NLD walks out of the National Convention. In a statement issued by the NLD, it states that in its present form the National Convention is not acceptable to the people of Burma and because it is not acceptable to the majority of the people, it is not acceptable to the NLD.

May 1996
The NLD calls for all peoples representatives elected in the 1990 general elections to convene in Rangoon from 26-28 May 1996.

May 1996
256 NLD activists arrested or detained by the SLORC.

June 1996
The SLORC issues Law No 5/96 banning all acts disturbing public order, making violators subject up to 20 years imprisonment. The law also subjects the writing of a state constitution to the same punishment. 144 of the 262 detained representatives are released. Military police prevent 100 of Aung San Suu Kyi's friends from visiting her at home on her 52nd Birthday.

1997
Burma is admitted to Association of South East Asian Nations (Asean); SLORC renamed State Peace and Development Council (SPDC).

1998
300 NLD members released from prison. Ruling council refuses to comply with NLD deadline for convening of parliament. Student demonstrations broken up.

1999
Aung San Suu Kyi rejects ruling council conditions to visit her British husband, Michael Aris, who dies of cancer in UK.

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September 2000
Ruling council lifts restrictions on movements of Aung San Suu Kyi and senior NLD members.

October 2000
Aung San Suu Kyi begins secret talks with ruling council.

2001
Ruling council releases some 200 pro-democracy activists. Government says releases reflect progress in talks with opposition NLD leader Aung San Suu Kyi who remains under house arrest.

February 2001
Burmese army and Shan rebels clash on Thai border.

June 2001
Thai Prime Minister Shinawatra visits, says relations are back on track.

September 2001
Intelligence chief Khin Nyunt visits Thailand. Burma pledges to eliminate drugs trade in the Golden Triangle by 2005.

November 2001
Chinese President Jiang Zemin visits, issues statement supporting government, reportedly urges economic reform.

May 2002
Pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi released after nearly 20 months of house arrest.

May 2003
Aung San Suu Kyi taken into 'protective custody' after clashes between her supporters and those of government.

August 2003
Khin Nyunt becomes prime minister. He proposes to hold convention in 2004 on drafting new constitution as part of 'road map' to democracy.

November 2003
Five senior NLD leaders released from house arrest after visit of UN human rights envoy.

January 2004
Government and Karen National Union – most significant ethnic group fighting government – agree to end hostilities.

May 2004
Constitutional convention begins, despite boycott by National League for Democracy (NLD) whose leader Aung San Suu Kyi remains under house arrest. The convention adjourns in July.

October 2004
Khin Nyunt is replaced as prime minister amid reports of a power struggle. He is placed under house arrest.

November 2004
Leading dissidents are freed as part of a release of thousands of prisoners, including Min Ko Naing, who led the 1988 pro-democracy student demonstrations.

December 2004
Giant waves, generated by an undersea earthquake off the Indonesian coast, hit the coast. The prime minister says 59 people were killed and more than 3,000 left homeless.

February 2005
Constitutional convention resumes, but without the participation of the main opposition and ethnic groups. Talks end in January 2006 with no reports of any clear outcomes.

May 2005
Three near-simultaneous explosions go off in shopping districts in the capital; the government puts the death toll at 23.

July 2005
Asean announces that Burma has turned down the 2006 chairmanship of the regional grouping.

November 2005
Burma says its seat of government is moving to a new site near the central town of Pyinmana.

March 2006
The new capital hosts its first official event, an Armed Forces Day parade.

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