Like its South East Asian neighbours Burma can boast a long and rich history. For a long time nip and tuck with the Khmer or Siamese kingdoms for the region’s domination, the Burmese fall under the British rule during the 19th century. Decolonisation opens positive perspectives for the young developing democracy but as of 1962 the power is confiscated by the military.
Under the yoke of a ruthless junta ever since, the country saw its economy collapse and the personal freedom almost brought to nothing. Outlawed by the international community, the regime –one of the planet’s most corrupt- makes the most of its financial resources from various sorts of traffic (drugs, precious wood and stones) and from the controversial operation of gas and oil fields by foreign companies.
In such context, the population, subject to the worst vexations (forced labour, arbitrary imprisonment, summary executions, deportations…), finds in Buddhism, strongly revered, one of the few ways to confront adversity with abnegation and dignity. The strained relationships between the regime and the clergy, between fear and instrumentalisation, reached a peak in 2007 with the brutal repression of the peaceful saffron revolution attempt, led by the monks with wide popular support.
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