1 - Introduction

Summary

Ever since Myanmar regained its independence in January 1948, the Tatmadaw (Myanmar Armed Forces) has been crucial in restoring and maintaining law and order. It is one of the most important institutions in Myanmar politics. During the civil war of late 1940s and early 1950s, the Tatmadaw suppressed both communist and separatist insurgencies, restored law and order, and maintained peace and stability. While it had engaged in counterinsurgency operations, the Tatmadaw also had to drive foreign aggressors out of the country. However, in October 1958 as the political situation began to deteriorate to such a point that a national security crisis was imminent, the civilian government of the time, at the intervention of some senior Tatmadaw commanders agreed to transfer state power to the Tatmadaw. On 28 October 1958, the Tatmadaw formed the Caretaker Government to restore political stability and to hold general elections; it finally held general elections in February 1960 and subsequently transferred state power back to the elected government. As a political crisis had been looming large again, the Tatmadaw this time staged a military coup d'état in the name of the Revolutionary Council (RC) on 2 March 1962. By the end of April, the RC declared the Burmese Way to Socialism (BWS) as its nation building programme. The Tatmadaw leadership subsequently founded the Burma Socialist Programme Party (BSPP) in July 1962 to lead the socialist revolution in Myanmar. The Revolution Council rule came to an end only when a new constitution was promulgated and general elections were held to restore a constitutional government in 1974. Since January 1974, the Tatmadaw accepted the political leadership of the BSPP. Only in September 1988, did the BSPP allow Tatmadaw personnel to resign membership from the party. Then on 18 September 1988, the Tatmadaw took over the state again in the name of the State Law and Order Restoration Council (SLORC), renamed the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC) on 15 November 1997.

Myanmar has a total land area of 667,000 square kilometres (261,228 square miles), measuring 936 kilometres (581 miles) from east to west, and 2,051 kilometres (1,275 mile) from north to south.