EXHIBITS

Sixty Years of Conflict: 1947-Present

In the wake of Aung San's assassination, conflict began to drive citizens from their homelands via military action. The following is a truncated account of Burma's history in the past sixty years.

1948 - Burma becomes independent with U Nu as prime minister.

1960 - U Nu's party faction wins decisive victory in elections, but his promotion of Buddhism as the state religion and his tolerance of separatism angers the military.

1962 - U Nu's faction ousted in military coup led by Gen Ne Win, who abolishes the federal system and inaugurates "the Burmese Way to Socialism" - nationalising the economy, forming a single-party state with the Socialist Programme Party as the sole political party, and banning independent newspapers.

As the military continued to gain an increased foothold over the government, local rebellions begin to spring up.

1988 - Thousands of people are killed in anti-government riots. The State Law and Order Restoration Council (Slorc) is formed. 

2001 February - Burmese army, Shan rebels clash on Thai border.

2004 January - Government and Karen National Union - most significant ethnic group fighting government - agree to end hostilities.

2007 June - In a rare departure from its normally neutral stance, the International Committee of the Red Cross accuses the government of abusing the Myanmar people's rights.

2008 January- A series of bomb blasts hits the country. State media blame "insurgent destructionists", including ethnic Karen rebels.

2012 January - Government signs ceasefire with rebels of Karen ethnic group.

2013 March - Rioting between Muslims and Buddhists in Meiktila, south of Mandalay, leaves at least 10 people dead.

2014 April - At least 22 people are killed in fighting between government troops and ethnic Kachin rebels in the north.

2015 March - A draft ceasefire agreement is signed between the government and 16 rebel groups.

2015 May - Hundreds of Muslim Rohingyas migrants leave by sea in flimsy boats, along with migrants from Bangladesh. UN criticizes failure of south-east Asian states to rescue them. [1]

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[1] "Myanmar Profile-Timeline." BBC News. Accessed 18 May 2015.