RELIGIONS: Buddhism 90%, Christian 4% (Baptist 3%, Catholic 1%), Muslim 4%, Animist 1%, other 1%

The British gained control of Burma in 1885, and retained control until Burma achieved independence on January 4, 1948.

Burma remained as a representative government until a military coup in 1962. A military-dominated regime held power for the next 26 years. The constitution was abolished, there were no free elections, and the basic freedoms of religion, expression, and association were eliminated. The country's economy and business climate deteriorated.

As a result, discontent among the people reached crisis proportions. On August 8, 1988 there were student-led demonstrations joined by monks and hundreds of thousands from the general public all across Burma demanding a regime change. A new ruling junta called the "State Law and Order Restoration Council" (SLORC) was established and the army was sent into the streets to restore order. It is estimated that as many as 10,000 people were killed. Thousands more were arrested and remain in prison today.

The SLORC ruled by martial law until national elections were held on May 27, 1990. The National League for Democracy (NLD) led by Aung San Suu Kyi (daughter of the assassinated General Aung San who was revered as the father of Burmese independence) won 392 of the 485 seats even though she was under house arrest. Ethnic minority parties opposed to the SLORC won 65 more seats. The National Unity Party backed by the SLORC won only ten seats; a resounding rejection of military rule by the Burmese people.

However, the SLORC refused to honor the results of the free election, and instead imprisoned many of those who had been elected. Others fled into exile. In 1991, Aung San Suu Kyi was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize while under house arrest. She was eventually released in July 1995.