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Area Handbook for Burma. INSTITUTION American Univ., Washington, D.C

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Area Handbook for Burma. INSTITUTION American Univ., Washington, D.C DOCUMENT RESUME ED 059 142 SO 002 1428 AUTHOR Henderson, John W.; And Others TITLE Area Handbook for Burma. INSTITUTION American Univ., Washington, D.C. Foreign Area Studies. REPORT NO DA-Pam-550-61 PUB DATE 71 NOTE 344p.; Supersedes DA Pam 550-61, June 1968 AVAILABLE FROMSuperintendent of Documents, U. S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C. 20402($3.00) EDRS PRICE MF-$0.65 HC Not Available from EDRS. DESCRIPTORS *Area Studies; Asian History; *Burmese Culture; Communism; Cultural Context; Demography; *Developing Nations; Economics; *Foreign Culture; Foreign Relations; Geography; Governmental Structure; Guides; Institutions; Military Organizations; Religion; Social Structure; Social Systems; Values IDENTIFIERS *Burma; Educational Systems ABSTRACT This volume, one of a series of handbooks on foreign culture, is intended as a reference tool for Nilitary and other personnel requiring an objective, comprehensive, and balanced description of Burma's modern society. An analytical appraisal of social, economic, and political aspects is provided with emphasis on the interaction of these societal elements in an attempt to convey to the reader an understanding of people and country. A chapter describing the national defense and internal security is included. Additional features offered are a concise country data summary, glossary, index, and an extensive classified bibliography. Related documents are SO 002 053 through SO 002 058, and SO 002 429. (SJM) sooa #.1.2 ED 0 59142 I d "PERMISSION TO REPRODUCE THIS COPY. RIGHTED MATERIAL BY MICROFICHE ONLY HAS SEEN GRANTED BY %mesas TVCr4A1ORGANIZATI NS OPERATING UNDER AGREEMENTS WITH THE U S OFFICE OF EDUCATION FURTHER REPRODUCTION OUTSIDE THE ERIC SYSTEM REOGIRES PER MISSION OF THE COPYRIGHT OWNER AREA HANDBOOK for U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, EDUCATION & WELFARE OFFICE OF EDUCATION THIS DOCUMENT HAS BEENREPRO. DUCED EXACTLY AS RECEIVEDFROM BURMA THE PERSON OR ORGANIZATIONORIG. INATING IT. POINTS OF VIEW OR OPIN. IONS STATED DO NOT NECESSARILY REPRESENT OFFICIAL OFFICE OFEDU CATION POSITION OR POLICY. Co-Authors John W. Henderson (No Judith M. Heimann Kenneth W. Martindale Rinn-Sup Shinn John 0. Weaver Eston T. White 1) Research and writing were completed Apri11971 Published 1971 (This pamphlet supersedes DA Pam 550-61, June 1968) DA Pam 550-61 Library of Congress CatalogCard Number: 75-612066 For sale by the Superintendent ofDocuments, U.S. Government PrintingOffice Washington, D.C. 20402Price $3.00 FOREWORD This volume is one of a series of handbc3ks prepared by Foreign Area Studies (FAS) of The American University,designed to be useful to military and (other personnel who need a convenient com- pilation of basic facts about the social, economic, political, and military institutions and practices of various countries. The em- phasis is on objective description of the nation's present societyand the kinds of possible or probable changes that might be expected in the future. The handbook seeks to present as full and as balanced an integrated exposition as limitations on spaceand research time permit. It was compiled from .itaformation available in openly pub- lished material. An extensive bibliography is provided to permit recourse to other published sources for moredetailed information. There has been no attempt to express any specific point of view or to make policy recommendations. The contents of the handbook represent the work of the authors and FAS and do not represent the official view of the United States government. An effort has been made to make the handbook as compre- hensive as possible. It can be expected, however, that the material, interpretations, and conclusions are subject to modification in the light of new information and developments. Such corrections, additions, and suggestions for factual, interpretive, or other change as readers may have will be welcomed for usein future revisions. Comments may be addressed to: The Director Foreign Area Studies The American University 5010 Wisconsin Avenue, N.W. Washington, D.C. 20016 PREFACE Since publication of. the Area Handbook for Burma in 1968 the shape and direction of the Revolutionary Government of the Union of Burma's new Marxist-oriented program have become clearer, making desirable a revision to take into account new developments and new information. Much of the research that is the basis for the 1968 volume was conducted in 1966 and reflected developments that had come to public knowledge somewhat earlier, in some cases predating the forcible seizure of power in 1962 by a military group headed by General Ne Win. Although access to Burmese sources has continued to be some- what limited and official statistics have remainedunavailable m many fields, the Ne Win government's plans for socializing the economy and revamping the society to a degree have been made public, al- though the total program still is not known. This is in part because the government has severely limited the ability of outside research workers, jouknalists, andiothers to enter the country. There has been some recent evidence, however, that these strictures are being light- ened to some extent. The 1968 handbook was prepared by a team headed by T.D. Roberts and including Jan M. Matthews, David S. Mc Morris, Kathryn E. Parachini, William N. Raiford, and Charles Townsend. This revision is intended to make the handbook current, as nearly as possible, with 1971. The handbook's purpose is to provide in a compact, convenient, balanced, and objective form an integrated exposition and analysis of the dominant social, political, and economic aspects of Burmese society. It is designed to give readers an understanding of the dy- namics of the component elements of the society as well as an insight into the ideas and feelings of its people and the role of the country in the world around it. Readers may find some inconsistency in the spelling of Burmese place names compared with usage to be found on some widely used maps and in various publications. Spelling of most place names has followed official United States govennnent maps and Burma: Official Standard Names Gazetteer No. 96 of the United States Board on Geographic Names, published in March 1966. In some instances differing official Burmese usage or general international use by English publications 'is followed when it seemed likely that such spellings would more readily be recognized by the reader. Burmese practice in the use of personal names has been followed in the bibliography and index ofthis volume. Those who are unfamiliar with Burmese practice should notethat there are no Burmese surnames, family names, ormarried names. Burmese have names of one, two, orthree syllables, and these do not necessarily bear any relation to the name of father,husband, sibling, or any other relative. They are preceded by titles thatindicate sex and that also take account of age and socialposition relative to the speaker. The most common adult title used toaddress or refer to men of superior age or social status is "U." A man,however, would new r refer to himself as "U" but would insteademploy the more modest title "Maung." The female equivalent to"U" is "Daw," and to "Maung," "Ma." English usage in this edition of the handbookfollows Webster's Third New International Dictionary (unabridged).English weights and measures are used except that alltons are metric tons unless otherwise noted. COUNTRY SUMM ARY 1. COUNTRY: The Union of Burma. Independent state after 1948. Burmese empire embracing most of modern nation first appeared in eleventh century. Partially under British colonial rule, 1826 to 1886; fully until 1947. 2. GOVERNMENT: Revolutionary Council composed of themili- tary elite heads the Revolutionary Government of the Union of Burma. Its chairman, governilig- through a hierarchy of appointed security and administrative committees,, rules by decree. The only authorized partythe Burma Socialist Peogram Partyis dominated by the military. Its declared mission is to provide leadership and gain mass rupport for the government. Provisions for governmental system in 1947 Constitution largely ignored after 1962. 3. SIZE AND LOCATION: Area, 262,000 square miles. Extends 800 miles from southern to northern extremities; 500 miles on longest east-west axis. Bordered on northeast by Communist China; on east, by Laos; on southeast, byThailand; on the southwest, by the Andaman Sea; on the west, by the Bay of Bengal; and on the northwest, by East Pakistan and India. 4. ADMINISTRP LIVE DIVISIONS: Major subdivisions: seven divisions of Burma proper; four constituent states; and one special division. Major units subdivided into districts, which are further divided into townships. Villages lowest element in country, and wards lowest in towns and cities. System of designations generally as established by British.Military. Army system of regional com- mands utilized for political control and for military administrative and tactical purposes. 5. TOPOGRAPHY: Four major features extend generally north and south. The Sh.in Plateau, average elevation 3,000 feet and deeply dissected, in the east; the valley region, in the center; the long mountain rib, much of which is 6,000 to 8,000 feet, in the west; and the narrow Arakan Coastal Strip. 6. CLIMATE: Predominantly tropical except in northern high- lands. Strongly influenced by monsoon. Three seasons: rainy, end of May to October; cool, end of October to middle February; and hot, middle February to end of May. Annual rainfall by region varies from less than 25 to over 200 inches. 7. POPULATION: About 27 million estimated in 1970. Annual growth rate estimated at 2.2 percent. About 80 to 85 percent rural. Only Rangoon, Mandalay, and Moulmein have over 100,000 popu- lation. Approximately 70 percent ethnic Burmans. Other most vli important ethnic elements: Karens, Shans,Kachins, Chins, Kayahs, Mons, Indians, Pakistanis, and Chinese. 8. LABOR FORCE: Estimated at10.5 million in 1967-68 period. Approximately 67 percent in agriculture, 8 percentin trade, 7 per- cent in manufacturing; no other sectorhas more than 3 percent. 9.
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