Goverment and Politics in Burma [20

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Subject: Goverment and Politics in Burma [20 May 1999]

Government and Politics in Burma
*****************************************
20 May 1999

The following document is a US government report on Government and Politics
in Burma. The document is based on facts investigated by US government
agencies worldwide.The report is the most recent and updated.

Sincerely,

Julien MNoe
*****************
Government 

Country name: 
conventional long form: Union of Burma 
conventional short form: Burma 
local long form: Pyidaungzu Myanma Naingngandaw (translated by the US
Government as Union of Myanma and by the Burmese as Union of Myanmar) 
local short form: Myanma Naingngandaw 
former: Socialist Republic of the Union of Burma 

Data code: BM 

Government type: military regime 

National capital: Rangoon (regime refers to the capital as Yangon) 

Administrative divisions: 7 divisions* (yin-mya, singular?yin) and 7 states
(pyine-mya, singular - pyine); Chin State, Ayeyarwady*, Bago*, Kachin State,
Kayin State, Kayah State, Magway*, Mandalay*, Mon State, Rakhine State,
Sagaing*, Shan State, Tanintharyi*, Yangon* 

Independence: 4 January 1948 (from UK) 

National holiday: Independence Day, 4 January (1948) 

Constitution: 3 January 1974 (suspended since 18 September 1988); national
convention started on 9 January 1993 to draft a new constitution; chapter
headings and three of 15 sections have been approved 

Legal system: does not accept compulsory ICJ jurisdiction 

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal 

Executive branch: 
chief of state: Prime Minister and Chairman of the State Peace and
Development Council Gen. THAN SHWE (since 23 April 1992); note?the prime
minister is both the chief of state and head of government 
head of government: Prime Minister and Chairman of the State Peace and
Development Council Gen. THAN SHWE (since 23 April 1992); note?the prime
minister is both the chief of state and head of government 
cabinet: State Peace and Development Council (SPDC); military junta, so
named 15 November 1997, which initially assumed power 18 September 1988
under the name State Law and Order Restoration Council; the SPDC oversees
the cabinet 
elections: none; the prime minister assumed power upon resignation of the
former prime minister 

Legislative branch: unicameral People's Assembly or Pyithu Hluttaw (485
seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) 

elections: last held 27 May 1990, but Assembly never convened 
election results: percent of vote by party?NA%; seats by party?NLD 396, NUP
10, other 79 

Judicial branch: limited; remnants of the British-era legal system in place,
but there is no guarantee of a fair public trial; the judiciary is not
independent of the executive 

Political parties and leaders: Union Solidarity and Development Association
(USDA, proregime), THAN AUNG, general secretary; National Unity Party (NUP,
proregime), THA KYAW; National League for Democracy (NLD), AUNG SHWE,
chairman, AUNG SAN SUU KYI, general secretary; and eight minor legal parties 

Political pressure groups and leaders: National Coalition Government of the
Union of Burma (NCGUB), headed by Dr. SEIN WIN?consists of individuals
legitimately elected to the People's Assembly but not recognized by the
military regime; the group fled to a border area and joined with insurgents
in December 1990 to form a parallel government; Kachin Independence Army
(KIA); United Wa State Army (UWSA); Karen National Union (KNU); several Shan
factions; All Burma Student Democratic Front (ABSDF) 

International organization participation: AsDB, ASEAN, CCC, CP, ESCAP, FAO,
G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat
(nonsignatory user), Interpol, IOC, ITU, NAM, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO,
UPU, WHO, WMO, WToO, WTrO 

Diplomatic representation in the US: 
chief of mission: Ambassador TIN WINN 
chancery: 2300 S Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 
telephone: [1] (202) 332-9044, 9045 
FAX: [1] (202) 332-9046 
consulate(s) general: New York 

Diplomatic representation from the US: 
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Kent M. WIEDEMANN 
embassy: 581 Merchant Street, Rangoon (GPO 521) 
mailing address: Box B, APO AP 96546 
telephone: [95] (1) 282055, 282181 (operator assistance required) 
FAX: [95] (1) 280409 

Flag description: red with a blue rectangle in the upper hoist-side corner
bearing, all in white, 14 five-pointed stars encircling a cogwheel
containing a stalk of rice; the 14 stars represent the 14 administrative
divisions 


Source:US Intelligence Agencies